Agricultural Tool Mounting Bracket for Clogging Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural implements face inefficiencies due to soil and crop residue buildup on ground-engaging tools, especially in wet conditions, leading to clogging and alignment issues, which decrease productivity and require manual cleaning, and challenges in maintaining proper tool orientation and contact with the soil for consistent furrow formation.
Innovation Solution
A tool mounting arrangement for agricultural implements that includes a ground-engaging tool, a support post, a mounting bracket, and a frame mount, allowing for adjustable orientation and positioning of the tool relative to the implement frame, with features like a collar with an axial opening and threaded fasteners for secure engagement, enabling easy adjustment and maintenance of tool alignment and orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If ground-engaging tools are used in wet soil conditions, then soil preparation can be performed, but soil and crop residue buildup occurs on the tools causing clogging and decreased efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting bracket is designed with adjustable features that allow dynamic repositioning of the ground-engaging tool. The bracket can be adjusted fore-aft along the support frame and rotated to different orientations, enabling the tool to be repositioned to address clogging issues without requiring manual cleaning interruptions
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system allows changing the spatial parameters (position and orientation) of the ground-engaging tool relative to the support frame. By adjusting the fore-aft position and rotational orientation, the tool can be repositioned to prevent or address residue buildup, maintaining productivity in wet conditions
2Reliability
If manual cleaning of ground-engaging tools is performed, then clogging is removed, but operator time and productivity are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable mounting bracket enables the tool to be repositioned fore-aft and rotated to different orientations, providing a dynamic solution that eliminates the need for manual cleaning by allowing the tool to be adjusted to prevent or address clogging issues
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows the operator to self-adjust the tool position and orientation to address clogging issues without requiring manual cleaning operations, thereby eliminating time loss while maintaining tool clearance
3Manufacturing precision
If ground-engaging tools are mounted fixedly to the frame, then alignment is maintained, but proper orientation and contact with ground cannot be adjusted for consistent furrow formation
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting bracket provides dynamic adjustability in both fore-aft position and rotational orientation, allowing the ground-engaging tool to be precisely positioned and oriented to achieve consistent furrow formation while adapting to different soil conditions and tool configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system is divided into separable components (mounting bracket, support post, frame mount) that can be independently adjusted. The bracket can be positioned at different locations along the support frame and rotated to different orientations, providing segmented adjustability for precise tool alignment
Data Source
AI summary
A tool assembly for an agricultural implement includes a ground-engaging tool mounted to the implement support frame by an assembly of a support post, a mounting bracket and a frame mount. At least one of the support post and the mounting bracket includes a substantially cylindrical rod and a collar having an axial opening configured to receive the rod. An interface arrangement may provide multiple contact areas between the support post and the collar. A recessed pocket may retain a nut that threads onto set screw used to engage the rod, such as at a detent recess, and fix the position of the support post with respect to the mounting bracket. The mounting bracket may provide for alternate fore-aft and lateral mounting orientations.