Rotating Agricultural System for Soil Compaction Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current farming practices using wheeled equipment lead to soil compaction, rutting, and damage to fields due to the need for operators, large and expensive machinery, and inefficient harvesting methods, particularly in wet conditions and intensive grazing scenarios.

Innovation Solution

An automatic, rotating agricultural system with a center pivot frame and frame segments that pivot around a central point, equipped with radial conveyors and cutterheads, allowing for all-weather, 24/7 feed harvesting and watering, minimizing soil compaction by using widely spaced wheels and enabling cutting at various heights without trampling the remaining plants.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If wheeled equipment is used to plant or harvest crops, then harvesting operations can be performed, but soil compaction and rutting occur causing damage to the field

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveharvesting capabilityVSAvoidsoil compaction and rutting

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The harvesting system is divided into multiple frame segments (first frame segment, second frame segment, etc.) that can operate independently or in coordination. Each segment has its own cutterhead and conveyors, allowing the system to harvest while minimizing concentrated wheel traffic on any single area of the field.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from traditional linear wheeled equipment to a rotating circular path system. The frame segments rotate around a center pivot, creating circular harvesting paths that distribute traffic patterns across the field in a different spatial dimension, reducing repeated compaction on the same linear tracks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If large wheeled equipment is used to complete harvesting in a short time, then productivity increases, but equipment size and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveharvesting speedVSAvoidequipment size and cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The rotating frame segments are designed to perform multiple functions: cutting forage, conveying harvested material, and potentially irrigating crops. The system can harvest different crop types and operate in various weather conditions, reducing the need for multiple specialized equipment pieces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If forage is cut at low near ground height to maximize yield, then harvesting efficiency improves, but plant regrowth is hindered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforage yieldVSAvoidplant regrowth capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The cutterhead height is made adjustable rather than fixed. The system can dynamically change cutting height based on crop conditions, desired yield, and regrowth requirements. This allows optimization between immediate forage yield and future regrowth potential.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of cutting height from the traditional fixed low setting to a variable parameter that can be adjusted based on specific harvesting needs. This parameter change allows the system to achieve high yield while preserving plant health and regrowth capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Productivity

If wheeled equipment operates in wet conditions to maintain productivity, then harvesting continues, but soil damage and rutting worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous harvestingVSAvoidsoil damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates its own irrigation capability through irrigation supply pipes connected to the rotating frames. This allows the system to water crops independently without requiring separate wheeled irrigation equipment, enabling operation in conditions where traditional wheeled systems would cause damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20230345877A1Automatic rotating agricultural system to irrigate, plant, gather forage, and/or harvest field and method for operating the system

Publication Date: 2023.11.02 FOI GRP

AI summary

The automatic, rotating agricultural system rotates around a central pivot point in either a full rotation or a partial arc to irrigate, plant and/or harvest a field. The agricultural system includes a center pivot frame, a plurality of frame segments connected to each other, and a feed storage bin connected to the center pivot frame and the frame segments. The frame segment includes a section frame including wheels to enable movements, a cutter trolley beam extends in a radial direction of the section frame, a cutterhead coupled to the cutter trolley beam to cut forage or crop, a radial conveyor that moves the cut forage or crop in the radial direction of the section frame, and a cutter conveyor that moves the cut forage or crop from the cutterhead to the radial conveyor.