Vertical Tillage System with Fluted-Concave Discs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tilling implements require multiple passes to effectively cultivate soil, leading to increased costs and soil compaction, which inhibits plant germination and root growth, and are limited to speeds below 6 miles per hour due to disc failure and compaction layer formation.

Innovation Solution

A vertical tillage system utilizing fluted-concave disc blades that move soil laterally and vertically, reducing subsoil compaction, capable of cutting through heavy crop residue and leveling the soil surface in a single pass, with adjustable pressure and wheel configurations to stabilize the system and allow higher speeds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If multiple passes of tilling implement are used to cultivate soil, then soil preparation quality is improved, but time cost and fuel consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoil preparation qualityVSAvoidtime cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The tilling implement is divided into multiple gangs with different disc configurations (flat discs for initial breaking, concave discs for pulverizing). Each gang performs a specific function in the tilling process, allowing comprehensive soil preparation in a single pass without requiring multiple operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple disc types and multiple gangs are combined into a single tilling implement assembly. The implement integrates both flat discs and concave discs in one configuration, merging the functions of soil breaking and pulverizing into one unified tool that can accomplish complete soil preparation in a single pass

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Manufacturing precision

If multiple passes of tilling implement are used to cultivate soil, then soil preparation quality is improved, but fuel consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoil preparation qualityVSAvoidfuel consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Strength

If disc concavity is increased to improve disc strength, then disc durability is improved, but soil compaction layer formation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisc strengthVSAvoidsoil compaction

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different discs within the same implement have different concavity characteristics tailored to their specific functions. Flat discs with minimal concavity are used for initial soil breaking where strength is critical, while concave discs with deeper curvature are used for pulverizing where soil movement and aeration are priorities, avoiding compaction in the pulverizing zone

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Productivity

If tilling implement speed is increased above 6 miles per hour, then productivity is improved, but disc failure increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetilling speedVSAvoiddisc durability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The implement allows discs to rotate freely at varying speeds depending on soil conditions and implement forward velocity. The free-rotation capability enables discs to dynamically adjust their rotational speed to match higher travel speeds without experiencing excessive lateral forces that would cause failure, maintaining reliability at increased productivity levels

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

5Productivity

If tilling implement speed is increased above 6 miles per hour, then productivity is improved, but soil compaction increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetilling speedVSAvoidsoil compaction

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS11051442B2Vertical tillage system

Publication Date: 2021.07.06 BLUE LEAF I P INC

AI summary

A vertical tilling implement to be pulled behind and agricultural vehicle having a number of gangs of fluted-concave disc blades, rolling baskets, and wheels connected to a main frame. As the vertical tilling implement is pulled, the fluted-concave disc blades move the soil in a direction lateral to the side of the blades as well as up. Meanwhile, the rolling bars aid in leveling the seedbed and crushing the remaining large pieces of soil. The vertical tilling implement reduces the amount of subsoil compaction and cuts through heavy residue making it ideal for use in the fall or in the spring.