Tillage Shank Preload Assembly for Consistent Cutting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible tillage implements with rubber springs face challenges in achieving consistent cuts due to initial deflection when engaging soil, leading to oscillation between unloaded and loaded positions, and are prone to premature failure when made stiffer to reduce deflection.
Innovation Solution
A preload assembly is integrated into the tillage implement, preloading the biasing members, such as compression or torsion springs, to minimize initial deflection and maintain stiffness, allowing the implement to traverse obstacles without premature failure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a stiffer spring is used to reduce initial deflection, then cutting consistency is improved, but assembly difficulty increases and the spring is susceptible to early failure
Solution Approach 1:
The preload assembly pre-compresses the spring by a predetermined amount during assembly, so that when the implement engages the soil, the spring is already in a loaded state rather than starting from an uncompressed position. This preliminary action eliminates the oscillation between unloaded and loaded positions that causes inconsistent cuts, while still allowing the use of softer springs that are easier to assemble and less prone to failure.
2Ease of manufacture
If a softer spring is used to facilitate assembly and improve responsiveness to obstacles, then ease of manufacture and adaptability are improved, but initial deflection increases causing inconsistent cuts
Solution Approach 1:
The preload assembly applies a predetermined compressive force to the spring during assembly, establishing an initial loaded state. This allows the use of softer, more assembly-friendly springs while ensuring that when the implement engages the soil, the spring immediately operates from a consistent loaded position rather than oscillating from an unloaded state, thereby maintaining cutting consistency.
3Manufacturing precision
If a stiffer spring is used to reduce initial deflection, then cutting consistency is improved, but the implement becomes less responsive to obstacles and more prone to premature failure
Solution Approach 1:
The preload assembly pre-compresses the spring to a predetermined load during assembly, allowing the use of softer springs that maintain reliability and responsiveness to obstacles. The preloaded state ensures consistent cutting performance by eliminating initial deflection oscillation, while the softer spring material and reduced stiffness prevent premature failure and maintain adaptability to field conditions.
4Reliability
If a softer spring is used to maintain pliability for obstacle traversal, then reliability is improved, but initial deflection causes oscillation between unloaded and loaded positions
Solution Approach 1:
The preload assembly applies a predetermined compressive force to the softer spring during assembly, establishing an initial loaded position. This allows the spring to maintain its softness and pliability for reliable obstacle traversal while eliminating the initial deflection oscillation that would cause inconsistent cuts, as the spring starts from a pre-loaded state rather than an unloaded state.
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
The preload assembly ensures more predictable and consistent cutting locations and depths, reducing oscillation and extending the life of the tillage implement by maintaining sufficient pliability to handle obstacles while maintaining initial stiffness.
Implementation Method 1
a shank pivotably coupled to the mounting bracket via a hinge assembly that includes a rotation inhibiting assembly biasing the shank toward an unloaded position
Implementation Method 2
a preload assembly for moving the shank to a loaded position that is rotationally offset from the unloaded position
Data Source
AI summary
A tillage implement, a tillage machine, and a method of tilling soil is provided. The tillage implement includes a mounting bracket that couples to a rolling frame, a shank pivotably coupled to the mounting bracket via a hinge assembly, a soil working tool operatively coupled to a distal end of the shank, and a preload assembly for moving the shank to a loaded position that is rotationally offset from an unloaded position. The tillage machine includes a rolling frame that is pulled by a tow vehicle when tilling a field and multiple ones of the tillage implements operatively coupled to the rolling frame that contact and till the field. And the method includes attaching the tillage implement to a rolling frame, preloading the hinge assembly by moving the shank to a loaded position that is rotationally offset from the unloaded position, and contacting the soil with the soil working tool.