Seed Transfer Unit with Rotating Arcuate Ridges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current agricultural systems face challenges in achieving precise resource use and reducing soil damage due to the limitations of large-scale equipment, which leads to high production costs and wasted resources, especially in arable land that is scarce and under competition for multiple uses.
Innovation Solution
The development of a seed transfer unit for autonomous agricultural machines, comprising rotating plates with arcuate ridges that guide and eject seeds efficiently, allowing for precise seed placement and reduced soil disturbance, integrated with a self-propelled seeding vehicle that operates autonomously without human intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional drill seeding equipment is used, then planting operation can be performed, but soil damage is substantial and resource use is inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical drill seeding system with an autonomous agricultural machine that uses a seed transfer unit with centrifugal force and precisely controlled seed ejection mechanisms. This substitution eliminates the need for heavy mechanical tillage equipment while achieving accurate seed placement through controlled seed transfer from a rotating plate with precisely positioned seed holes to the soil surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The autonomous agricultural machine performs planting operations without human intervention, using onboard sensors to detect soil conditions and automatically adjust planting parameters. The machine navigates autonomously and controls the seed transfer and ejection processes independently, achieving both reduced soil disturbance and precise resource allocation through self-directed operation.
2Measurement precision
If large-scale equipment is used, then planting operation can be performed, but resource use accuracy deteriorates and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the planting operation into discrete segments: individual seeds are transferred through a seed transfer unit with precisely positioned seed holes in a rotating plate, allowing each seed to be placed independently at exact locations. This segmentation enables accurate resource use by ensuring each seed is placed only where needed, rather than using broad coverage methods required by large-scale equipment.
3Extent of automation
If autonomous operation is implemented, then labor intervention is eliminated, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous agricultural machine integrates multiple functions into a single platform: autonomous navigation, soil condition sensing, seed storage and transfer, and controlled seed ejection. The seed transfer unit itself performs multiple functions by combining the rotating plate with seed holes, centrifugal force generation, and precise seed release mechanisms, reducing the need for separate specialized equipment while achieving full automation.
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 solution enables precise seed placement and reduced soil damage, improving resource efficiency and lowering production costs by allowing autonomous operation of agricultural machines, thereby addressing the challenges of arable land scarcity and resource wastage.
Implementation Method 1
each of the first and second plates has at least one ridge portion extending into the annular space, which ridge portions cooperate to carry a seed through the annular space
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5A~5B
AI summary
A seed transfer unit for an agricultural planter, comprises first and second transfer bodies (800, 900), with each comprising a plate (850, 950) with a cylindrical sidewall (860, 960) extending perpendicularly. The first and second plates (850, 950) are mounted to permit relative rotation therebetween about a device axis (61) coincident with the major axes through the first and second cylindrical side walls (860, 960), with the first and second plates (850, 950) parallel, and with the second cylindrical side wall (960) disposed within, and concentric with, the first cylindrical side wall (860), such that the first and second plates (850, 950) and first and second cylindrical side walls (860, 960) define an annular space therebetween. The first plate (850) has an inlet aperture (802) through which a seed may pass to the annular space, and the second plate (950) has at least one outlet aperture (901a, 901b) through which a seed is ejected. Each of the first and second plates (850, 950) has at least one arcuate ridge portion (810, 811, 812, 910, 911, 912, 913, 914, 915) concentric with the respective cylindrical side wall (860, 960) and extending into the annular space, which ridge portions (810, 811, 812, 910, 911, 912, 913, 914, 915) cooperate to carry a seed through the annular space from the inlet aperture (802) to the, or one of the, outlet apertures (901a, 901b) as the first and second plates (850, 950) rotate relative to one another.