Sweep Plow Frame with Truss Struts for Depth Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sweep plow implements experience twisting moments and bouncing actions due to draft forces, leading to misalignment and increased power requirements, making it difficult to maintain precise blade depth for effective weed root disruption.
Innovation Solution
A sweep plow implement design featuring a frame with pivotably mounted wheel struts and actuators that form a truss-like structure, minimizing frame twist and flexure, allowing precise control of blade depth and reducing bouncing through uniform wheel spacing and direct actuator connections to wheel struts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sweep plow blades are drafted through the soil to cut and disrupt weed root systems, then the effectiveness of weed control is improved, but the draft forces exert twisting moments on the frame structure causing the sweep plows to tilt downwardly and become misaligned
Solution Approach 1:
The frame is divided into multiple sections with individual adjustment mechanisms for each sweep plow assembly. This allows independent alignment adjustment of each blade unit to compensate for twisting moments, maintaining precise blade positioning while effectively cutting weed roots through the segmented adjustment capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs adjustable parameters including blade depth, angle, and horizontal position that can be modified to optimize performance. By changing these parameters, the system maintains precise alignment even under varying draft forces, ensuring both effective weed control and accurate blade positioning.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the depth of the sweep plows is increased to maintain the outboard tips of the sweep plow blades beneath the surface and stabilize the implement from bouncing, then the implement stability is improved, but the cutting action becomes less precise and the power needed to draft the implement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces dynamic adjustment capabilities that allow the operator to modify blade depth and angle during operation. This dynamic adaptability enables the system to maintain optimal cutting precision across varying field conditions without requiring excessive depth increase for stability, thereby reducing power consumption while preserving cutting accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms through adjustable linkages and hydraulic controls that respond to terrain variations and draft forces. This feedback allows real-time adjustment of blade position and depth, maintaining both stability and cutting precision without needing to operate at consistently increased depths that would waste power.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the depth of the sweep plows is increased to stabilize the implement from bouncing, then the implement stability is improved, but the power needed to draft the implement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable depth and angle mechanisms enable dynamic optimization of blade penetration depth. Rather than operating at constantly increased depths for stability, the system adapts to actual field conditions, maintaining minimal effective depth that reduces power consumption while achieving sufficient stability through proper blade positioning and frame rigidity.
Solution Approach 2:
By allowing changes in operational parameters such as blade depth, angle, and horizontal position, the system can achieve stability through optimized configuration rather than excessive depth. This parameter optimization reduces the power required to draft the implement while maintaining adequate stability during operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A sweep plow implement includes a frame, sweep plow assemblies, wheel assemblies and actuators. Each sweep plow assembly is mounted to the frame by a standard which extends down from the frame. Each wheel is supported by a triangular structure which straddles the standard and which includes a wheel strut which is pivotably mounted to the frame forward of the wheel and carries the wheel at its distal end. An actuator connects between the frame and each wheel strut. When the actuator is extended, the frame is lifted to a maximum height and when the actuator is retracted, the frame is lowered to a minimum height. When the actuator is retracted sufficiently, the sweep plow assembly is at an elevation suitable for drafting the sweep plow assembly through farm ground soil.