Spring-Loaded Soil Harrow Teeth for Uniform Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing soil work machines, such as Estrille harrows, face challenges in maintaining uniform work intensity across all teeth, especially when dealing with soil irregularities, which affects the quality of weeding and soil treatment. Additionally, these machines are often complex, costly, and not suitable for large-width operations.
Innovation Solution
A compact and simple soil work machine design featuring a central framework with articulated lateral frames, a unique tooth fixation system using pairs of teeth with spiral springs, and a design that ensures uniform flexibility and aggressiveness across the entire vertical travel range of the teeth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If complex adjustment mechanisms and pneumatic circuits are added to control tooth force, then measurement precision and control capability improve, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs spring elements that automatically adjust tooth force based on soil conditions without requiring external control systems. The springs self-regulate the applied force through their elastic properties, eliminating the need for complex pneumatic circuits or electronic sensors while maintaining consistent working pressure across all teeth.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive, complex pneumatic adjustment mechanisms with simple, inexpensive spring elements. These springs provide sufficient force control at a fraction of the cost and complexity of pneumatic systems, while being easy to replace if needed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple manual adjustment devices are installed for infinite individual adjustments, then adaptability improves, but device complexity and ease of operation worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses spring elements with varying stiffness coefficients to provide different force levels. By selecting springs with appropriate parameters, the system adapts to different soil conditions and crop types without requiring manual adjustment during operation. The spring parameter selection enables adaptability while maintaining operational simplicity.
3Manufacturing precision
If differentiated strength springs are combined for each tine, then working precision improves, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies springs with differentiated stiffness characteristics to specific tines based on their individual requirements. Each spring is tailored to the local needs of its associated tine, providing optimal force distribution across the harrow while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
4Productivity
If the harrow width is increased for large-scale operations, then productivity improves, but device complexity and bulk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the harrow into multiple independent modules, each equipped with its own spring-loaded tooth assembly. These modular units can be arranged in parallel to achieve the desired working width without increasing the complexity of individual components. Each module operates independently, simplifying the overall structure while enabling large-scale operations.
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 machine achieves uniform aggressiveness and flexibility of the teeth throughout their vertical travel, ensuring high-quality soil treatment and weeding, while also being cost-effective, easy to maintain, and compatible with large-width operations.
Implementation Method 1
a spring harrow device... equipped with springs... the same force on the surface to be treated and on the weeds to be removed... the flexibility needed to preserve the crop
Implementation Method 2
whether as a function of the nature and resistance of the material making up the soil... when the working plane is located at the lower end of the gauge wheels
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 2b
AI summary
The present invention relates to a soil-working machine comprising at least one frame (1, 2) for hitching to a tractor, said frame (1, 2) carrying a plurality of cross members (9) mounted to pivot freely on themselves in their attachments to the frame, arranged at equidistant intervals across the direction of travel, and themselves supporting at regular intervals a plurality of flexible steel wire tines (14, 15) fixed in pairs, each tine comprising a proximal portion (26) characterized in that the attachment of a pair of tines (14, 15) consists of a single fixing pin (20) clamping a single fixing lug (19), the cross member (9) concerned, and a single guide-support element (18) into which the pair of tines (14, 15) is inserted and a spring (16, 17) associated with each of the tines (14, 15), each spring being respectively anchored between the proximal portion of the tine (14, 15) to which it is associated and the fixing bracket (19).