Tillage Shank Assembly Alignment via Double Adapter Plates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tillage implement shank and tool assemblies suffer from misalignment and damage due to single side mounting, leading to uneven drag and increased tractive effort when encountering resistant objects, resulting in reduced performance and increased wear.
Innovation Solution
A modular shank assembly with double adapter plates or a single adapter with ears, featuring bolts or pins that act as shear members or pivots, ensures alignment and controlled shear upon contact with resistant objects, minimizing damage and maintaining tool assembly alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If single side mounting is used between tool assembly and shank, then ease of replacement is improved, but alignment stability deteriorates causing tool assembly to depart from proper forward alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The single fastener connection is segmented into multiple fasteners distributed across multiple sides of the tool assembly and shank. This segmentation allows the connection to be replaced individually while maintaining overall alignment stability through the distributed fastener arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting arrangement uses asymmetric placement of fasteners on different sides of the tool assembly and shank, creating a balanced distribution that compensates for unilateral loading and maintains alignment stability while allowing easy replacement of individual components.
2Device complexity
If fasteners are used in single shear configuration, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to cleavage forces causing fastener failure
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener connection transitions from a single-plane (single shear) configuration to a multi-plane (double shear) configuration by adding fasteners on opposite sides of the tool assembly and shank. This dimensional change distributes cleavage forces across multiple planes, preventing fastener failure while maintaining relatively simple device complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If tool assembly is allowed to flex side to side under load, then adaptability to soil conditions is improved, but harmful side loads increase causing tool assembly breakage
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple fasteners are pre-positioned on opposite sides of the tool assembly and shank to counteract side loads before they can cause harmful effects. This preliminary anti-action prevents the tool assembly from flexing excessively side to side while still allowing controlled adaptation to soil conditions, reducing breakage risk.
4Loss of time
If deformed shank and tool assembly are continued to be used, then loss of time is reduced by avoiding replacement, but productivity deteriorates due to uneven drag and increased tractive effort
Solution Approach 1:
The fasteners are designed as sacrificial, replaceable components that can be quickly replaced when worn or damaged. This allows the tool assembly to be rapidly reconfigured or replaced if deformation occurs, minimizing downtime while maintaining productivity by preventing continued use of deformed assemblies that would increase tractive effort requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A tillage implement includes at least one row unit having at least one shank assembly. The shank assembly includes a shank engaged at one end to the at least one row unit and at an opposing end to a tool. Planar members are positioned on a portion of each lateral side of the shank and the tool. The shank includes at least two mounting features and the tool includes one mounting feature. Each planar member has at least two matching mounting features for the shank and at least one matching mounting feature for the tool. A first connecting member engages at least one of the at least two matching mounting features, and a second connecting member also engages one of the at least two matching mounting features. One additional connecting member engages one mounting feature of the tool and one matching mounting feature of each planar member.