Seed Drill Wheel Suspension Spring Decoupling Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seed drills pose a risk of injury to machine operators due to the spring-loaded support arm locking mechanism, which can snap back when released, and suffer from reduced service life and increased stress on springs from constant loading.
Innovation Solution
A separate spring-loaded coupling element decouples from the support arm, allowing for non-destructive and reversible connection, enabling the wheel to be locked in the raised transport position without spring force loading, thus reducing operator risk and extending the service life by eliminating constant stress on the spring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the support arm remains spring-loaded when moving from lowered position to raised position, then the wheel always remains in contact with the ground for reliable speed determination, but the risk of injury for the machine operator increases significantly due to the support arm being locked under tension
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling between the spring and support arm is segmented into two independent coupling elements: a first coupling element that remains engaged to maintain wheel contact for speed determination, and a second coupling element that can be disengaged to release spring tension from the support arm during transport, thereby eliminating the injury risk while preserving reliability during operation
Solution Approach 2:
A separate coupling element acts as an intermediary between the spring and support arm, allowing the spring force to be transmitted to the wheel assembly without permanently loading the support arm structure. This intermediary can be selectively engaged or disengaged to control when the spring force is active
2Speed
If the support arm remains spring-loaded during transport, then the wheel can be quickly returned to ground contact, but the service life of the spring is reduced due to constant high spring stress
Solution Approach 1:
The spring loading is changed from continuous to periodic by selectively engaging the second coupling element only when needed (during operation or quick return). During transport, the coupling element is disengaged, allowing the spring to rest and recover, thereby extending its service life while maintaining rapid response capability when required
3Ease of operation
If the support arm is spring-loaded during transport, then the wheel can be easily returned to working position, but the spring properties deteriorate due to long-term stress and gradual change
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling system is made dynamic by allowing the second coupling element to be selectively engaged or disengaged based on operational needs. This dynamic coupling enables the support arm to transition between spring-loaded and unloading states, preserving spring properties by minimizing continuous stress while maintaining operational flexibility
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 solution reduces the risk of injury to machine operators and increases the service life of the wheel suspension by allowing the wheel to be safely raised and lowered without spring force loading, while maintaining contact with the ground for reliable operation and adapting to uneven terrain.
Implementation Method 1
a spring (44) acting on a separate coupling element (46), the separate coupling element (46) being set up to transmit the spring force to the support arm (36) in such a way that the running wheel (38) is pressed in the direction of the ground (64)
Implementation Method 2
the separate coupling element (46) being set up by the non-destructive and reversibly detachable connectability to the support arm (36) to interrupt the transmission of the spring force to the support arm (36) by releasing the connection to the support arm (36)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a seed drill (10) for spreading seed and/or fertilizer, comprising a wheel (38) attached to a support arm (36) and movable between a transport state and a working state, wherein the wheel (38) is raised in the transport state and lowered to the ground (64) in the working state, a support beam (34) attached to a frame (20), wherein the support arm (36) is pivotably connected to the support beam (34) about a pivot axis (56), a metering element (18) configured to meter the amount of seed and/or fertilizer to be applied depending on the rotational speed of the wheel (38), and a spring-loaded separate coupling element (46) configured to transmit a spring force to the support arm (36), wherein the spring-loaded separate coupling element (46) is non-destructive and reversible detachably connectable to the support arm (36).