Agricultural Tillage Device With Offset Coulter Wheels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural implements are inefficient in clearing and tilling soil while simultaneously fertilizing, as they require significant tractor power and may not effectively handle rocky conditions or maintain soil in the tilled area.
Innovation Solution
An agricultural implement with a residue-clearing sub-assembly featuring a rotatable coulter wheel and toothed wheels, a tillage sub-assembly with offset coulter wheels, and a depth control device, all mounted on a common frame with a four-bar linkage for flotation and adjustable depth control, allowing for efficient soil preparation and fertilizer application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional agricultural implements are used for clearing and tilling soil, then the soil can be prepared for planting, but significant tractor power is required and the implement may not effectively handle rocky conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The implement divides the soil preparation function into separate modular sub-assemblies: a residue-clearing sub-assembly with coulter wheel and toothed wheels for clearing, and a tillage sub-assembly with offset coulter wheels for tilling. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while reducing overall power requirements compared to traditional integrated implements.
Solution Approach 2:
The implement incorporates a depth control device mounted for rotation and an adjustable linkage attached to the frame that allows flotation of the unit on a contour. These dynamic elements enable the implement to adapt to varying terrain and rocky conditions, maintaining effective soil preparation while reducing power consumption by floating over obstacles rather than forcing through them.
2Productivity
If traditional tillage implements are used, then soil can be tilled, but the implement may not effectively handle rocky conditions or maintain soil in the tilled area
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable linkage attached to the frame allows flotation of the unit on a contour, enabling the implement to dynamically adapt to rocky terrain and uneven surfaces. The depth control device mounted for rotation provides additional adaptability, allowing the tillage sub-assembly to maintain effective contact with the soil while floating over rocks rather than forcing through them, thus ensuring reliable performance in rocky conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The tillage sub-assembly uses offset coulter wheels positioned to create specific soil disruption patterns, with the second and third coulter wheels offset from each other both laterally and fore and aft. This localized configuration optimizes soil treatment in different areas, maintaining tilled soil in the targeted area while navigating rocky conditions.
3Productivity
If multiple separate operations are performed for clearing and tilling, then each operation can be optimized, but the process requires multiple passes and more time
Solution Approach 1:
The implement merges the residue-clearing function and the tillage function into a single integrated unit that can be pulled behind a tractor in one pass. The residue-clearing sub-assembly with its coulter wheel and toothed wheels clears vegetation and debris, while the tillage sub-assembly with offset coulter wheels simultaneously tills the soil. This combination eliminates the need for separate clearing and tilling passes, significantly reducing time loss and increasing operational efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
An agricultural implement for clearing and tilling soil to be planted includes a residue-clearing sub-assembly including a first rotatable coulter wheel and at least one toothed wheel mounted for rotation about an axis located rearwardly of the axis of rotation of the first coulter wheel of forward portion of the toothed wheel overlaps a rear portion of the first coulter wheel. A tillage sub-assembly includes second and third coulter wheels that are offset from each other both laterally and fore and aft, and are mounted for rotation about axes of rotation that are located rearwardly of the axes of rotation of the toothed wheels. A depth control device is mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation located rearwardly of the axis of rotation of the rearmost of the second and third coulter wheels. A common frame carries the residue-clearing sub-assembly, the tillage sub-assembly, and the depth control device so that all of the axes of rotation are fixed relative to each other. An adjustable linkage is attached to the frame for allowing flotation of the unit on a contour.