Walking Beam Closing Disk Assembly for Agricultural Implements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural implements face efficiency and productivity issues due to clogging of ground-engaging tools, especially in wet soil conditions, leading to inconsistent soil preparation and potential loss of time for manual cleaning, and improper contact with the ground, which affects the operation of closing disk assemblies in tillage and other implements.
Innovation Solution
A closing disk assembly with a walking beam and rocker assembly that pivots about an axis perpendicular to the direction of travel, allowing the disks to follow ground contours and maintain contact, reducing clogging and ensuring consistent operation by using a recoil spring and strategically angled beam segments to manage forces and maintain disk depth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional closing disk systems are used, then the structure is simple, but the disks cannot follow ground contours effectively, causing clogging and inconsistent contact
Solution Approach 1:
The closing disk system transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic mechanism with the walking beam that can pivot and adapt its position. The walking beam allows the closing disks to dynamically follow ground contours while maintaining consistent contact, resolving the contradiction between reliability and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The closing disk assembly is segmented into multiple components (walking beam, rocker assembly, mounting assembly) that can move independently. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while contributing to the overall ability to follow ground contours and maintain consistent contact.
2Productivity
If ground-engaging tools operate in wet soil conditions, then soil preparation can be performed, but clogging occurs, reducing efficiency and requiring manual cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The walking beam mechanism creates a walking motion that includes vibratory components, helping to prevent soil and crop residue from building up on the closing disks. This mechanical vibration effect allows continuous operation in wet soil conditions without clogging, maintaining productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The walking beam mechanism automatically adjusts the closing disks' position and maintains their contact with the ground without external intervention. The system serves itself by continuously adapting to ground conditions, preventing clogging without requiring manual cleaning operations.
3Manufacturing precision
If closing disks are mounted on a rigid structure, then the mounting is simple, but the disks cannot maintain consistent depth and contact on uneven terrain
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotal connection mechanism transforms the rigid mounting structure into a dynamic system that can adjust to uneven terrain. The walking beam and rocker assembly allow the closing disks to maintain consistent depth by dynamically adapting their position, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and structural complexity.
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 solution effectively reduces clogging and maintains consistent contact of closing disks with the ground, enhancing the efficiency and productivity of soil preparation by allowing the disks to follow ground contours and manage forces effectively, thus improving soil filling and trench closure.
Implementation Method 1
The walking beam is pivotally connected to a rocker assembly, which is attached to a support arm. The walking beam pivots about an axis perpendicular to the direction of travel of the agricultural implement
Implementation Method 2
using a recoil spring and strategically angled beam segments to manage forces and maintain disk depth
Data Source
AI summary
An agricultural implement has a closing disk assembly for closing furrows along a section of ground. The closing disk assembly has a pair of closing disks attached to opposite sides and opposite ends of a walking beam. The closing disks are offset from a reference plane of the closing disk assembly. The walking beam is rotatably coupled to the closing disk assembly through a rocker assembly, a support arm, and a mounting assembly. The walking beam may rotate relative to the rocker assembly to account for variations in the angle of the ground relative to the disks.