Row Digger with Rotating Discs for Furrow Dirt Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for removing dirt piles between field furrows and irrigation trenches are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and inefficient, leading to uneven water distribution and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A Row Digger tool designed to be towed by a tractor, featuring adjustable digger arms with digging discs that rotate to excavate dirt piles, allowing for efficient removal of obstructions and accommodating varying field dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual labor with a shovel is used to remove dirt piles, then the tool complexity is low, but the productivity is low and labor costs are high
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the dirt removal function into multiple digging discs attached to separate digger arms, each capable of independently excavating dirt piles. This segmentation allows parallel processing of multiple dirt piles simultaneously, significantly improving productivity while keeping each individual component simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses the tractor's hydraulic system to automatically raise and lower the digger arms, eliminating the need for manual operation. The hydraulic mounting connectors enable the device to self-adjust its position, improving productivity without requiring complex control mechanisms.
2Loss of time
If manual labor with a shovel is used to remove dirt piles, then the acquisition cost is low, but the time consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed with adjustable digger arms and digging discs that can be pre-configured for different field conditions. The extender frame can be adjusted to extend the reach of the digging discs, allowing the device to handle various dirt pile sizes and positions without time-consuming adjustments during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The device enables continuous dirt removal operation as the tractor moves along the irrigation trench, with multiple digging discs continuously excavating dirt piles. This eliminates the intermittent nature of manual shoveling and maintains constant productive action, significantly reducing total time consumption.
3Reliability
If conventional manual methods are used, then the operational cost is low, but the water distribution efficiency is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The device allows adjustment of the digger arm length and digging disc position to match different field conditions and dirt pile locations. This parameter adjustment ensures consistent and reliable dirt removal across varying field configurations, improving water distribution uniformity while maintaining operational efficiency.
4Extent of automation
If the tool is made independently driven with hydraulics or pneumatics, then the automation level is high, but the acquisition cost and operational cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses the tractor's existing hydraulic system as an intermediary to provide the necessary power and control. Instead of incorporating independent hydraulic or pneumatic systems, the device leverages the tractor's available hydraulic mounting connectors, significantly reducing acquisition and operational costs while maintaining automated operation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed to work with standard tractor hydraulic mounting connectors, making it universally compatible with existing tractor systems. This universality eliminates the need for specialized independent drive systems, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining full automation capability.
Data Source
AI summary
The Row Digger provides a tool that enables an operator of the Row Digger to remove dirt piles interfering with irrigation between crop field furrows and irrigation trenches. The Row Digger includes a frame capable of moving from a transportation position to an operation position. The Row Digger also includes a plurality of digger arms extending from a central hub and each terminating in a corresponding digging disc. The central hub is connected to the frame at a hub angle and is capable of rotation about a hub axis. Each digging disc is also connected to the corresponding digger arm at a disc angle. Each digging disc enters a crop furrow and utilizes the slopes of the ridges to create the rotation required about the hub axis and ensure a path of travel for the digging discs that removes the impeding dirt piles.