Tractor Front Attachment for Seed Furrow Creation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing agricultural systems for attaching seed and fertilizer containers to tractors face high fuel consumption and lengthy setup times due to the need for manual installation of lines and complex assemblies, which reduce performance and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A front cultivation system for tractors with a saucer device and interchangeable tillage tools, supported by adjustable arms and a lifting mechanism, allows for direct seed and fertilizer distribution without lengthy lines, reducing setup times and fuel consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If a small-capacity seed and/or fertilizer hopper is attached to the seed drill, then the weight the tractor has to carry/pull is reduced, but the seed drill's performance is reduced as it needs to be refilled more frequently

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetractor load weightVSAvoidseed drill performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The seed and fertilizer storage capacity is segmented between two separate locations: a hopper mounted on the rear attachment and a smaller hopper on the front attachment. This segmentation allows the tractor to carry reduced weight while the front hopper provides additional capacity without requiring frequent refilling, thus resolving the contradiction between weight reduction and productivity maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Quantity of substance

If an additional hopper for seed and/or fertilizer is attached to the front of the tractor, then the seed drill's capacity is increased, but long lines and a powerful conveying fan are required resulting in increased fuel consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseed and/or fertilizer capacityVSAvoidconveyor fan fuel consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The conveying system is segmented into two independent paths: one from the front attachment hopper to the sowing device, and another from the rear attachment hopper to the sowing device. This segmentation eliminates the need for a single long conveying line spanning the entire tractor length, reducing the energy required for conveyance while maintaining adequate seed and fertilizer capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sowing device acts as an intermediary receiving point for both front and rear hoppers. By positioning the sowing device centrally and accepting material from both front and rear locations, the system avoids the need for extremely long conveying lines, thereby reducing the power and fuel consumption of the conveying fan.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If a front attachment with conveying lines is installed, then the seed and/or fertilizer capacity is increased, but significant setup times are required for manual installation of lines

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseed and/or fertilizer capacityVSAvoidsetup time for line installation
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The conveying lines are pre-installed and integrated into the front attachment structure during manufacturing. This preliminary action eliminates the need for manual installation of conveying lines during field setup, significantly reducing setup time while maintaining the increased seed and fertilizer capacity provided by the front hopper.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The front attachment merges multiple functions into a single integrated unit: it houses the seed/fertilizer hopper, contains pre-installed conveying lines, and includes the necessary mounting hardware. This merging eliminates the need for separate manual installation steps for hoppers and conveying lines, reducing overall setup time while maintaining expanded capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Quantity of substance

If a front attachment is used for seed and/or fertilizer storage, then the hopper size can be reduced, but the axle loads of the tractor are poorly distributed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehopper capacityVSAvoidaxle load distribution
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The total hopper capacity is segmented between front and rear attachments, with the front hopper providing partial capacity and the rear hopper providing the remainder. This segmentation allows for reduced individual hopper sizes while maintaining total capacity, and the distributed weight between front and rear attachments improves axle load distribution and tractor stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4544896A1Front attachment for connecting to a front connection of a tractor and machine system with a front attachment
Publication Date: 2025.04.30 AMAZONEN WERKE H DREYER GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4544896A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4544896A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4544896A1 patent drawingFigure 3a

AI summary

The invention relates to a front attachment (1) for connection to a front linkage (51) of a tractor (50), comprising: - a seeding device (2) for creating seed furrows with at least one support arm (3) for carrying and guiding a tillage tool (4). Furthermore, the invention relates to a machine system (100) for introducing seed and/or fertilizer into arable soil, comprising: - a front attachment (1) for connection to a front linkage (51) of a tractor (50), - wherein the front attachment (1) comprises a seeding device (2) for creating seed furrows.