Triple-Fold Cultivator for Narrow Transport Profile
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural tillage implements with increasing widths face difficulties in converting between operating and transport modes efficiently, often requiring significant time and effort from the operator, and may not fit within regulatory dimensions for road travel without an escort vehicle.
Innovation Solution
A triple-fold field cultivator design featuring a center frame and lateral wing sections that can be folded 180° and 90° to create a compact transport position, allowing the implement to be stacked vertically over the center frame, reducing width and height to comply with road regulations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If the tillage implement is made wider to increase operating width, then the working capacity is improved, but the difficulty of converting to transport mode increases and the implement may exceed road regulation dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The implement is divided into a center frame section and multiple wing sections (inner, middle, outer) that can be independently folded. This segmentation allows the wide implement to be broken down into manageable sections that can be reconfigured for transport without requiring excessive manual effort or time.
Solution Approach 2:
The wing sections are designed to fold over and nest upon the center frame section and adjacent wing sections. The outer wing section folds over the middle wing section, which folds over the inner wing section, creating a compact nested configuration that reduces both width and height to comply with road regulations.
2Area of moving object
If the tillage implement is made wider to increase operating width, then the working capacity is improved, but the time required for conversion between modes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The implement incorporates hydraulic actuators that automatically perform the folding operation, transforming the static wide configuration into a dynamic compact configuration for transport. This automated dynamic system eliminates the need for manual folding operations, significantly reducing conversion time while maintaining the ability to achieve a compact transport profile.
3Area of moving object
If the tillage implement is made wider to increase operating width, then the working capacity is improved, but the complexity of the folding mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The folding mechanism is segmented into three independent folding stages corresponding to the three wing sections. Each wing section has its own folding hinges and can be folded independently over the adjacent section, reducing the overall complexity compared to a single complex folding mechanism. The segmented approach allows each folding stage to be simpler and more manageable.
Data Source
AI summary
A triple-fold agricultural implement includes a center frame section, and a plurality of wing sections positioned on opposite lateral sides of the center frame section. The plurality of wing sections include an inner wing section, a middle wing section and an outer wing section. Each outer wing section may be folded approximately 180° laterally inward and over a respective middle wing section. Each middle wing section may be folded approximately 180° laterally inward and over a respective inner wing section. Each inner wing section may be folded approximately 90° laterally inward and over the center frame section, whereby each of the plurality of wing sections when in a folded state are in a transport position lying above the center frame section.