Seed Drill Tractor Hitch Hydraulic Force Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seed drills for direct sowing on untilled fields require high contact forces to penetrate plant stubble and other materials, often necessitating heavy designs and slow response times due to large mass, which complicates operation and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A seed drill combination with a farm tractor, where the seed drill is attached to a three-point hitch, utilizing a pneumatic actuator to provide pressing force through the tractor's chassis, allowing for adjustable and controlled furrow depth and opener pressure without relying on the drill's own weight, enabling efficient direct sowing on unprepared fields.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the seed drill is designed with heavy weight to provide sufficient pressing force for furrow openers, then the contact force for furrow opening is improved, but the response time and operational efficiency deteriorate due to large mass
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a hydraulic cylinder as an intermediary force transmission device between the tractor and the seed drill. The hydraulic system transmits force from the tractor's hydraulic pump through hoses and valves to the seed drill's furrow openers, enabling force application without direct mechanical coupling of heavy components. This mediator allows rapid force adjustment and elimination of the inertia associated with heavy mechanical linkages.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical weight-based pressing system with a hydraulic force transmission system. Instead of relying on the seed drill's own weight or heavy mechanical components to provide pressing force, the system uses hydraulic pressure generated by the tractor's hydraulic system to apply the necessary force to the furrow openers. This substitution eliminates the need for heavy ballast and reduces the operational inertia of the seed drill.
2Force
If the seed drill uses its own weight to provide pressing force, then the pressing force is sufficient, but the device complexity and structural requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the tractor's hydraulic system serve multiple functions: it provides both the lifting/lowering of the three-point hitch and the pressing force for the furrow openers. By routing hydraulic lines from the tractor's existing hydraulic pump and control valves to the seed drill, the system utilizes the tractor's multi-functional hydraulic capability rather than requiring a separate mechanical weight system for pressing force.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the seed drill is designed with high dead weight to ensure stable operation, then the operational stability is improved, but the ease of operation and maneuverability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical stability provided by heavy weight with hydraulic force control. The hydraulic system maintains stable operation of the furrow openers through controlled pressure application, while the seed drill itself remains lightweight and easily maneuverable. The hydraulic forces provide the necessary operational stability without requiring excessive mass.
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
This configuration reduces the seed drill's weight and enhances operational efficiency by using the tractor's weight to provide necessary pressing forces, allowing for precise control of sowing depth and pressure, improving response times and reducing the need for additional ballast, thus facilitating effective direct sowing on untilled fields.
Implementation Method 1
The three-point hitch includes a lower link that is height-adjustable by means of a double-acting hydraulic cylinder
Implementation Method 2
The sowing units, each equipped with at least one furrow opener, are biased downwards relative to the crossbeam by associated biasing means
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A combination consists of a tractor (10) and a seed drill (36) suitable for direct seeding, attached to a three-point hitch (20) of the tractor (10). The seed drill (36) has a crossbeam (58) connected to the three-point hitch (20), on which several seeding units (60) are mounted side by side. The seeding units (60), each equipped with at least one furrow opener (78, 80), are pre-tensioned downwards against the crossbeam (58) by means of pre-tensioning devices, and the three-point hitch (20) can be locked against a chassis (12) of the tractor (10). Thus, during seeding, the pressure forces of the furrow openers (78, 80) are transmitted via the seeding units (60), the pre-tensioning devices, the crossbeam (58), and the three-point hitch (20) to the chassis (12) of the tractor (10).