Single Arm Row Cleaner for Grain Drill Residue Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
The John Deere model 750 grain drill's narrow spacing and 'boxed in' frame configuration make it difficult to attach a suitable row cleaner, requiring a compact, adjustable, and aggressive cleaner that prevents residue winding, allows adjustable down pressure, and provides adequate ground clearance for optimal performance in no-till conditions.
Innovation Solution
A single arm row cleaner design with a pivotally mounted row cleaner wheel, adjustable biasing member, lever arm, and deflector system that allows for adjustable down pressure and increased ground clearance, preventing residue winding and wrapping, and accommodating obstacles while maintaining effective residue removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a traditional row cleaner is attached to the John Deere model 750 grain drill, then residue clearing capability is improved, but the narrow spacing and boxed-in frame configuration prevent proper attachment and operation
Solution Approach 1:
The row cleaner is divided into separate functional modules: a mounting bracket that attaches to the furrow forming assembly, a row cleaner wheel with cleaning elements, and an adjustable down pressure assembly. This segmentation allows the components to be compact while maintaining full functionality, enabling attachment to the narrow-spacing 750 drill frame.
Solution Approach 2:
The row cleaner wheel is positioned within the confined space between the furrow forming assembly and the drill frame, effectively nesting the cleaning mechanism within the existing structural envelope. This allows the row cleaner to operate in the narrow gap without requiring additional external space.
2Productivity
If the row cleaner is made aggressive to remove heavy residue, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but residue winding and plugging of adjacent opener units occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The row cleaner wheel features varying cleaning element configurations at different locations - more aggressive elements where heavy residue accumulates and gentler elements near the opener units. This localized variation in cleaning intensity provides effective residue removal while preventing excessive material pickup that would cause winding and plugging.
Solution Approach 2:
A deflector is positioned between the row cleaner wheel and the opener units to intercept and redirect residue particles. This intermediary component prevents cleaned residue from being picked up again by the opener units, eliminating the winding and plugging problems while maintaining aggressive cleaning where needed.
3Productivity
If adjustable down pressure is provided for adequate clearing, then residue removal is improved, but the row cleaner becomes more complex and difficult to adjust
Solution Approach 1:
The down pressure assembly incorporates a spring mechanism that provides continuous, adjustable downward force on the row cleaner wheel. The spring rate and preload can be adjusted to vary the cleaning pressure, providing adaptive down pressure that maintains effective residue removal without requiring complex mechanical adjustment systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing member (spring) allows adjustment of the down pressure parameter by changing spring compression or selecting different spring rates. This simple parameter change provides variable cleaning force without adding mechanical complexity, enabling the operator to optimize cleaning pressure for different residue conditions.
4Volume of moving object
If the row cleaner is compact for narrow spacing, then attachment to 750 drill is enabled, but ground clearance for transport becomes limited
Solution Approach 1:
The row cleaner wheel is mounted on an adjustable arm that can pivot between a lowered position during planting operations and a raised position during transport. This dynamic positioning allows the compact design to provide adequate ground clearance when needed without increasing the overall volume of the assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment mechanism moves the row cleaner wheel vertically in the height dimension rather than increasing its horizontal footprint. This allows the compact lateral design to maintain full ground clearance capability by utilizing the vertical adjustment degree of freedom.
Data Source
AI summary
A single arm row cleaner unit mountable to a grain drill opener arm includes a row cleaner arm and a mounting saddle. The mounting saddle is generally configured for attachment to a main arm of a furrow forming assembly. A row cleaner arm may be pivotally attached to the mounting saddle about a mandrel, and a row cleaner wheel may be pivotally mounted to the row cleaner arm. A biasing member may be positioned adjacent the mandrel to engage the row cleaner arm and a biasing member retainer, which may be affixed to the mounting saddle. A deflector may be positioned adjacent the row cleaner wheel and biased there against. A connector and lever arm may be used to communicate forces from a closing wheel arm to the row cleaner wheel for adequate clearance of the row cleaner wheel during transport of the grain drill.