Trailing Shoe Spreader for Liquid Manure Incorporation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for applying liquid manure in grassland often result in forage contamination due to residue issues, influenced by application technique, weather, viscosity, and substrate characteristics, which are not effectively addressed.

Innovation Solution

A trailing shoe spreader with liquid manure hoses and incorporation units that slit open the subsoil and work the manure into the soil as it moves, ensuring efficient infiltration and minimizing above-ground residues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If liquid manure is applied to the surface without incorporation, then application simplicity is improved, but forage contamination increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication simplicityVSAvoidforage contamination
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the manure application function with the incorporation function into a single trailing shoe applicator unit. The trailing shoes slit the substrate and the incorporation units work the manure into the soil in one continuous operation, eliminating the need for separate application and incorporation passes while preventing forage contamination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The trailing shoes perform preliminary action by slitting the substrate surface before the manure is applied. This pre-prepared incisions allow the manure to be directly incorporated into the subsoil as it flows from the hoses, preventing surface residue and forage contamination while maintaining simple operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If incorporation units are added to work manure into subsoil, then forage contamination is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforage contaminationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The trailing shoe applicator is designed as a multi-functional unit that combines manure delivery, substrate slitting, and manure incorporation into a single device. The incorporation units with radially outward-extending tines serve multiple purposes: incorporating manure, aerating substrate, and controlling application depth, thereby reducing overall device complexity despite adding incorporation capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The incorporation units are segmented with multiple radially outward-extending tines that can independently penetrate and work the substrate. This segmentation allows the incorporation function to be achieved through multiple small elements rather than one large complex mechanism, reducing overall device complexity while effectively reducing forage contamination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If trailing shoes slit the surface before manure application, then manure incorporation efficiency is improved, but application complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanure incorporation efficiencyVSAvoidapplication complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The substrate-slitting function and manure application function are merged into a single trailing shoe unit. The trailing shoes continuously slit the substrate while the hoses simultaneously deliver manure into the incisions, achieving high incorporation efficiency without requiring separate operations or complex coordination mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The trailing shoes automatically slit the substrate and create incisions that guide the manure flow directly into the subsoil. The system is self-sufficient in that the slitting action itself prepares the path for manure incorporation without requiring additional guidance mechanisms or complex control systems, maintaining simplicity while improving efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 trailing shoe spreader effectively incorporates liquid manure into the subsoil in a single step, reducing forage contamination and enhancing nutrient distribution, while allowing for adjustable penetration depth and angle of attack to accommodate varying conditions.

Implementation Method 1

The trailing shoes and incorporation units can also be attached, at least indirectly, to these spring tines, which exert a spring force on the trailing shoes and incorporation units towards the soil.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring force: Spring

Implementation Method 2

This is achieved through the mechanical action of the incorporation units, which, as the trailing shoe applicator moves along, roll over the already applied slurry and work it into the soil.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentEP4052554A1Trailing shoe spreader for spreading liquid manure
Publication Date: 2022.09.07 FLIEGL AGRO CENT
  • EP4052554A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4052554A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4052554A1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to a trailing shoe distributor (10) for distributing liquid manure, comprising several liquid manure hoses (14) with outlet openings for applying the liquid manure to a substrate; several trailing shoes (20) which, in a working position of the trailing shoe distributor (10), are designed to slit the substrate before the liquid manure reaches the substrate from the outlet openings; several incorporation units (22) which, in the working position of the trailing shoe distributor (10), are designed to incorporate the applied liquid manure into the substrate by rolling along the surface as the trailing shoe distributor (10) moves along the substrate.