Straight-Edge Disc Tool for Residue Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing disc tools for breaking up field residues, such as those from oil-yielding plants and maize, tend to accumulate residues, requiring frequent cleaning and are costly to manufacture, while also not effectively addressing the need for shallow soil cultivation.
Innovation Solution
A disc tool design featuring a central hub with radially extending cutting edges that form 90-98% straight tracks, decreasing in axial extent towards the hub, and incorporating recesses between cutting edges to reduce residue accumulation, allowing for efficient breaking up of residues with reduced cleaning needs and lower production costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional disc tools with curved cutting edges are used, then they can break up field residues, but they accumulate residues requiring frequent cleaning and are costly to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the opposite principle by using straight cutting edges instead of curved ones. The cutting edges are designed as substantially straight lines radiating from the hub, which prevents residue accumulation while simplifying manufacturing. This straight-edge design allows residues to be more easily cleared away and reduces the complexity of manufacturing curved surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The disc tool is segmented into multiple straight cutting edges arranged radially around the hub, with gaps between them. This segmentation creates discrete cutting zones that prevent continuous residue buildup and allow for easier cleaning between the segments, while also simplifying the manufacturing process compared to continuous curved edges.
2Productivity
If conventional disc tools are used for shallow soil cultivation, then they can cultivate soil, but they require frequent cleaning interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
By using straight cutting edges instead of curved ones, the patent enables continuous operation without cleaning interruptions. The straight edges create cleaner cutting paths that prevent residue accumulation, allowing the tool to maintain productivity over extended periods.
3Ease of manufacture
If disc tools with complex curved cutting edges are used, then they can break up residues, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent successfully maintains residue breaking effectiveness while using simple straight cutting edges instead of complex curved ones. The straight edges radiate from the hub at appropriate angles and provide sufficient cutting action to break up residues, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and cost without sacrificing performance.
Solution Approach 2:
Each straight cutting edge is positioned and angled appropriately for its specific location on the disc, optimizing local cutting performance. This local optimization ensures effective residue breaking while maintaining the overall simplicity of the straight-edge design, balancing effectiveness with manufacturing ease.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1c
Figure 2a~2c
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
The document discloses a disc tool (1) for breaking up field residues, comprising a central hub portion (10), which is designed for mounting the disc in a tool holder in order to make the disc rotatable about a rotation axis (Ar), a cultivating portion (11), which is located radially outside of and adjoins the hub portion (10), and a plurality of substantially straight cutting edges (El, E2) which are located at the periphery of the disc tool. The cultivating portion (11) has a plurality of undulations (111, 112) which, with an axial extent decreasing toward the inside, run from the cutting edges (El, E2) to the hub portion (10). The cutting edge (LEI, E2) is designed such that 90-98% of a track formed by the cutting edge consists of straight track portions. The document further discloses an agricultural implement with such disc tools, the use of such an agricultural implement, and a method for manufacturing such a disc tool.