Sectional Seeder Dosing Drive With Wrap Clutch Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural input dosing systems in machines like seeders and fertilizer spreaders face issues with non-uniform distribution due to irregular land shapes, leading to double sowing or fertilization and high production and maintenance costs, particularly in systems with individual motors or guillotine mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A dual system with a main shaft and secondary shafts linked by a wrap clutch or electric motors, allowing independent control of each roller section to manage input flow, reducing double deposition and optimizing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a guillotine mechanism is used to control input flow to roller sections, then sectional cutting is achieved, but double sowing occurs due to progressive emptying and filling of the roller section
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by emptying the roller section before closing the guillotine gate, and refilling it before opening the gate. This preliminary preparation prevents double sowing by ensuring the roller section is in the correct state (empty or full) at the moment of gate operation, thereby achieving precise sectional cutting without overlapping deposition.
2Ease of operation
If individual motors are used for each roller section, then independent control is achieved, but production and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the control function by providing independent motors for each roller section, allowing individual control of each section's operation. This segmentation enables precise control of input flow to each roller section, achieving independent operation while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design.
3Loss of time
If the guillotine gate is closed before the roller section is empty, then input flow is stopped quickly, but vacuum is created in the fall duct
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary emptying of the roller section before closing the guillotine gate. This preliminary action ensures that no material remains in the roller section when the gate closes, preventing vacuum creation in the fall duct while still achieving quick stopping of input flow to the designated section.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system ensures precise and uniform distribution of agricultural inputs, reducing double sowing/fertilization and lowering investment and maintenance costs, offering flexibility in motor choices.
Implementation Method 1
a wrap clutch system consisting of friction springs
Implementation Method 2
being able to allow or stop the flow of inputs by means of its activation or deactivation by means of a solenoid
Implementation Method 3
The input is transported by means of an air stream and controlled according to the rotational speed of the roller section that receives the input, for example, the sowing seed or fertilizer or other through some grooves to be directed, propelled by an air stream that flows to multiple distribution hoses
Data Source
AI summary
An alternative drive dosing system for agricultural machines, e.g., pneumatically driven seeders and fertilizer spreaders with sectional cutting, comprising: a) a hopper having internal divisions; b) an air stream distribution system; and c) regulators for metering a product that are operated by two different systems, allowing various agricultural input distribution methods to be used; the dosing system alternatively comprising: (i) a main drive shaft linked to a plurality of feeders comprising roller sections with secondary shafts aligned parallel to each other and perpendicular to the main shaft for metering the product from the hopper to the ground, wherein the main shaft and the secondary shafts are linked by means of a wrap clutch system consisting of a clutch in each roller section, capable of allowing or stopping the flow of inputs by activating or deactivating them by means of a solenoid, and wherein one end of the main drive shaft is linked to a gearbox or electrohydraulic motor, or electric motor or other type of main drive; or ii) an electric motor in replacement of the wrap clutch system on each roller section, wherein said motor is capable of enabling or stopping the flow of inputs by activating or deactivating it.