Spring-Loaded Grubber Tooth Depth Regulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cultivator tines deflect easily under traction resistance, leading to uneven soil tillage and inability to maintain precise depth, resulting in streaks and reduced cutting quality.

Innovation Solution

A cultivator tine design featuring a pivoted handle with a transverse axis above the carrier, actuated by a leaf spring, allowing depth regulation without altering the coulter blade position, and lateral guidance to prevent side deviation, combined with overload protection via shear bolts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the cultivator handle is mounted on a carrier via a bracket with a transverse axis above the carrier, then depth regulation according to draft resistance is achieved without significant change in coulter blade position, but the device complexity increases due to the additional pivot mechanism and spring assembly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedepth regulation precisionVSAvoidpivot mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cultivator handle is made dynamically adjustable through a pivot mechanism on a transverse axis, allowing it to rotate and regulate depth according to draft resistance. This dynamic mounting enables the handle to adapt to soil conditions while maintaining precise depth control without significant change in coulter blade position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The pivot mechanism changes the operational parameters of the cultivator handle by allowing rotational movement around a transverse axis. This parameter change enables depth regulation through draft resistance while maintaining the coulter blade position, resolving the contradiction between precision and complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If a spring assembly is used to actuate the cultivator handle, then impacts and peak loads are absorbed, but the device complexity increases due to the additional spring and guide components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpact absorptionVSAvoidspring assembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A spring assembly is installed beforehand to cushion impacts and peak loads before they can damage the cultivator system. The spring absorbs shock energy, protecting the handle and carrier from damage while maintaining operational reliability.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The spring assembly acts as an intermediary element between the cultivator handle and the carrier, mediating the transmission of forces. It absorbs impacts and peak loads, protecting the main structure from direct shock while maintaining the operational integrity of the system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If the cultivator handle is guided laterally by a guide with side parts, then side deviation is prevented and even tillage is achieved, but the device complexity increases due to the guide structure and shear bolts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelateral guidance precisionVSAvoidguide structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide structure provides localized lateral guidance to the cultivator handle, constraining it to move only in the vertical plane. The side parts of the guide create a confined path that prevents side deviation, ensuring precise tillage while the complexity is localized rather than distributed throughout the entire system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The guide structure with shear bolts provides self-service lateral guidance, automatically constraining the handle's movement without requiring external control mechanisms. The shear bolts engage with the guide sides to prevent deviation, and the system self-corrects lateral positioning through the guide's geometric constraints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 precise and even soil tillage with reduced tilling streaks and extended cutting quality of thin goosefoot shares, while absorbing impacts and maintaining consistent depth without significant changes in the coulter blade position.

Implementation Method 1

A leaf spring, which is arranged between the holder and a guide, is preferably used as the spring. This achieves good lateral guidance of the cultivator handle.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the cultivator handle, which is acted upon by a spring and arranged pivotably via a bracket on a carrier of a cultivator

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring force: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP2201833B1Spring-loaded grubber tooth
Publication Date: 2014.06.11 TREFFLER PAUL
  • EP2201833B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The tooth has a bent grubber shaft (1) loaded by a spring (3). The grubber shaft is pivotably arranged on a support (10) of a grubber by a holder (4), and includes a share blade (12) at a lower end. The grubber shaft is pivotable around a transverse axle (2) attached to the holder, where the transverse axle is arranged above the support and in a pulling direction of the grubber before a tip (21) of the share blade. The spring is designed as a leaf spring arranged between the holder and a guide (17). The guide includes two side parts (18), which are spaced at a distance from each other.