Soil-Working Device Overload Protection with Damping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing soil cultivation devices face challenges in maintaining precise depth adjustment and absorbing impact energy when encountering obstacles, leading to stress on components and reduced durability, especially in soil with varying resistance and foreign bodies.

Innovation Solution

An energy storage device is integrated with the depth stop to absorb impact energy, allowing for a compact, durable, and cost-effective design that adjusts torque settings based on the tool's aggressiveness and soil conditions, using a combination of springs or pressurized cylinders to manage overload protection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a pre-tensioned spring mechanism is used to hold the retaining shank in the working position, then precise depth control is achieved, but high preload forces cause frequent activation of overload protection and high recoil energies that strain components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedepth controlVSAvoidcomponent durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a damping element (such as a rubber buffer or shock absorber) positioned between the retaining shank and the frame. This damping element absorbs and dissipates the impact energy when the retaining shank strikes the stop during overload conditions, preventing high recoil energies from damaging components. The cushioning element is pre-positioned to engage only during overload events, allowing normal operation to maintain precise depth control while providing protection during abnormal conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the overload protection is designed with high preload forces to prevent tool lift-off, then stability in light but stony soil is improved, but the impact energy absorbed by components increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetool position stabilityVSAvoidimpact energy
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a damping element as an intermediary component between the retaining shank and the frame structure. This intermediary element serves as a mediator that transfers and dissipates impact forces during overload conditions. The damping element can be a rubber buffer, elastomeric material, or shock-absorbing mechanism that converts kinetic energy from the retaining shank's impact into heat or deformation energy, thereby reducing the force transmitted to structural components while maintaining the stability needed to prevent tool lift-off during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 enhances the durability and effectiveness of overload protection by absorbing and resetting impact energy, reducing stress on components and maintaining precise depth control, particularly in soils with high foreign body content.

Implementation Method 1

an energy storage device (8) is assigned to the depth stop (9), by which the impact energy of the support arm (4) from the upper overload position is at least partially absorbed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

it can be designed as a one- or multi-part elastic spring, for example, a coil spring

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring mechanism: Spring

Implementation Method 3

a depth stop (9), which defines the working position of a tool (3) on a support arm (4)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical constraint:

Data Source

PatentEP3481169B1Soil-working device having an overload protection means
Publication Date: 2022.02.16 LEMKEN GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3481169B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3481169B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3481169B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a soil-working device (1) having an overload protection means (7), in the case of which overload protection means rebound energy is reduced after the soil-working device (3) returns from an overload position to the working position.