Vibratory Ridge Backfilling to Reduce Seedling Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing on-ridge transplanters using backfilling wheels risk damaging pot seedlings and cause excessive soil compaction, affecting the growth and development of the seedlings by reducing soil porosity and water permeability.
Innovation Solution
A vibratory backfilling device that operates on the sides of the ridge using a cam link mechanism and soil beat actuators to backfill the hole of the pot seedling with vibrating ridge soil, reducing direct contact and compaction, and ensuring stability and survival of the seedlings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If backfilling wheels are used to compact ridge soil around pot seedlings, then the contact area between ridge soil and pot seedlings is increased and plants are stabilized, but the backfilling wheels may crush the pot seedlings and cause excessive soil compaction
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the harmful direct contact function from the backfilling system by removing the backfilling wheels that previously touched the ridge soil and pot seedlings. Instead, the device uses a backfilling plate that operates at a distance, utilizing the natural flow of ridge soil under vibration to achieve backfilling without mechanical contact that causes crushing and compaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies mechanical vibration through the backfilling plate to induce flow in the ridge soil, enabling the soil to naturally backfill the holes around pot seedlings. This vibratory approach replaces the harmful static compression from backfilling wheels with a dynamic process that achieves stabilization without excessive compaction or seedling damage.
2Reliability
If backfilling wheels compact the ridge soil directly on the ridge, then the pot seedlings are stabilized and kept upright, but the porosity of the ridge soil is reduced and water permeability is affected
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces vibration as an intermediary mechanism that mediates between the need for soil stabilization and the preservation of soil structure. The backfilling plate transmits vibrations that cause soil particles to settle and bind together for stabilization while maintaining the natural porosity and permeability characteristics, avoiding the direct compressive force that destroys soil structure.
3Ease of operation
If backfilling wheels are used for backfilling, then the operation is simple and direct, but the machine must drive linearly precisely to avoid damaging seedlings
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the precision driving requirement by extracting the direct mechanical contact function. The backfilling plate operates without touching the ridge soil or pot seedlings, using vibration-induced soil flow for backfilling. This eliminates the need for precise linear driving control while maintaining operational simplicity.
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 device minimizes seedling damage, maintains soil porosity, and reinforces the ridge structure while ensuring proper growth and water infiltration, enhancing the survival rate and growth of pot seedlings.
Implementation Method 1
the cam link mechanism includes a cam, a roller, a slidable push rod, a preload spring, and a link rod; the cam is located at an uppermost end of the vertical base plate and is connected to an output shaft of a drive motor, a top of the slidable push rod is provided with the roller, and the roller is arranged to press against the cam
Implementation Method 2
one end of the preload spring is fixedly connected to the vertical base plate, the other end of the preload spring is connected to the slidable push rod, and the preload spring is used for providing upward acting force for the slidable push rod to make the roller at a top end of the slidable push rod press against the cam constantly
Implementation Method 3
the soil beat actuator is driven by the cam link mechanism and continuously vibrates and beats two sides of the ridge where a pot seedling is just planted so as to cause ridge soil to flow back and backfill a hole of the pot seedling
Data Source
AI summary
A vibratory backfilling device includes a mounting frame, vertical base plates, cam link mechanisms and a soil beat actuator. The entire backfilling device is mounted on a rear cross beam of a transplanter, and follows the transplanter to move forwards between ridges; two sides of the mounting frame are connected to the vertical base plates respectively, and the cam link mechanism is mounted on the vertical base plate; and the soil beat actuator is rotatably arranged on the vertical base plate, an upper end of the long plate inclines towards an inner side of the vertical base plate and is hinged to a link rod of the cam link mechanism, and the soil beat actuator is driven by the cam link mechanism and continuously vibrates and beats two sides of the ridge to cause ridge soil to flow back and backfill a hole of the pot seedling.