Seed Sowing Apparatus Soil Deflection Members

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional seed drill devices are ineffective in adverse soil conditions, particularly in heavy soils, as the soil closing stage becomes clogged when the soil is wet, preventing optimal seed drilling operations.

Innovation Solution

A seed sowing apparatus with a soil opening stage featuring laterally spaced seeding units and a soil closing stage comprising soil deflection members that form unseeded trenches to cover seeded trenches, allowing operation in saturated soils without a roller or wheel, enabling seed sowing in conditions where conventional drills fail.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a roller or wheel is used for soil closing in conventional seed drills, then soil closure is achieved under normal conditions, but the device becomes clogged and inoperable in wet, saturated heavy soils

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperability in wet soil conditionsVSAvoidclogging of roller/wheel

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the roller or wheel component from the soil closing stage entirely, replacing it with soil deflection members that guide soil back to cover seeds without requiring rolling or wheel-based compaction. This extraction eliminates the clogging problem while maintaining soil closure functionality in wet conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using a roller to push soil forward and close the trench, the invention uses deflection members to guide soil backward from the sides to cover the seeded trench. This inverted approach to soil closure avoids the clogging issue inherent in traditional roller-based systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional seed drills are used in heavy soils, then seed sowing can be performed under normal conditions, but the soil closing stage fails when soil is too wet

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to operate in adverse soil conditionsVSAvoidperformance in saturated soil

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the operational parameters of the soil closing stage by replacing rolling action with soil deflection and guidance. The soil closing members are designed to work by directing soil flow rather than compacting through rolling, allowing operation in wet soils where traditional rollers would fail

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The soil deflection members serve multiple functions: they deflect soil away from the seeding unit, guide soil back to cover the seeded trench, and close the trench without requiring rolling action. This multi-functionality enables reliable operation across varying soil moisture conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Enables seed sowing in heavy, saturated soils by using soil deflection members to cover seeded trenches, ensuring effective seed distribution and soil closure without the need for a roller or wheel, thus overcoming the limitations of conventional seed drills in adverse conditions.

Implementation Method 1

each seeding unit configured to form a respective seeded trench in the ground when the apparatus is in use driven through soil

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

each soil deflection member configured to deflect soil toward the seeded trench formed by the seeding unit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 3

soil deflection members each associated with a respective one of the seeding units configured to deflect soil toward the seeded trench

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSoil flow:

Data Source

PatentUS11490556B2Seed sowing apparatus and method of sowing seed

Publication Date: 2022.11.08 CHAPLIN SIMON ROBERT FRANK

AI summary

Seed sowing apparatus comprising: a frame defining a leading part supporting a soil opening stage and a trailing part supporting a soil closing stage trailing the soil opening stage, wherein the soil opening stage comprises a plurality of laterally spaced seeding units, each seeding unit comprising a soil opening member associated with a respective seed delivery outlet connected to a seed source, wherein each seeding unit is configured to form a respective seeded trench in the ground when the apparatus is in use driven through soil in a forward direction of travel; wherein the soil closing stage comprises a plurality of laterally spaced soil deflection members each associated with a respective one of the seeding units, each soil deflection member being spaced laterally from the soil opening member of its respective seeding unit and configured to deflect soil toward the seeded trench formed by the seeding unit.