Wheel Position Control for Agricultural Implement
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Solution Overview
Problem
In seeding implements, the inner pair of wheels causes soil compaction, reducing crop yields and seeding efficiency due to their position relative to the tow vehicle's wheels and tracks.
Innovation Solution
A wheel position control system that includes aligned and offset wheels, where the offset wheels are raised above the soil surface during operation to minimize soil compaction, and the wheel position control system uses actuators to manage the wheels' positions relative to the toolbar assembly, ensuring the aligned wheels engage the soil while the offset wheels are disengaged.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the inner pair of wheels is positioned laterally inward from the tow vehicle wheels to support the toolbar, then the toolbar assembly is properly supported during operation, but soil compaction increases and crop yields decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the wheel position adjustable rather than fixed. The offset wheels can be raised or lowered relative to the toolbar assembly depending on whether the implement is in transport or working position. This dynamic adjustment allows the wheels to be engaged during transport for support and disengaged during seeding to prevent soil compaction, resolving the contradiction between stable support and harmful soil compaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the wheel support system into two distinct pairs: aligned wheels and offset wheels. Each pair serves a specific function - aligned wheels provide support during transport while offset wheels are positioned to avoid soil compaction during seeding. This segmentation allows different wheel pairs to be independently controlled and positioned, enabling the system to prevent harmful soil compaction while maintaining reliable toolbar support.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the outer pair of wheels is positioned substantially aligned with the tow vehicle wheels, then soil compaction is minimized, but the wheels do not substantially contribute to supporting the toolbar assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The aligned wheels are dynamically positioned to be engaged with the ground during transport to minimize soil compaction, and can be lowered to engage and support the toolbar during working operations if needed. This dynamic positioning allows the same wheel pair to serve different functions based on operational requirements, resolving the contradiction between minimizing soil compaction and providing toolbar support.
3Reliability
If both pairs of wheels are lowered to support the toolbar assembly, then the toolbar is properly supported, but the inner pair of wheels causes soil compaction that reduces seeding efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic control of wheel position through actuators that can raise or lower each wheel pair independently. During working operations, the offset wheels are raised to disengage from the soil, preventing compaction and maintaining seeding efficiency, while the aligned wheels remain lowered to provide necessary toolbar support. This dynamic differentiation resolves the contradiction between reliable toolbar support and seeding efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel support system is segmented into aligned and offset pairs with distinct functions. The offset wheels are specifically designed and positioned to avoid soil compaction zones during seeding operations, while aligned wheels handle the support function. This functional segmentation allows the system to maintain both reliable toolbar support and high seeding efficiency by assigning different roles to different wheel pairs.
Data Source
AI summary
An agricultural implement system includes a wheel position control system configured to control respective positions of an aligned wheel and an offset wheel of the agricultural implement system. The aligned wheel is configured to be substantially laterally aligned with a corresponding vehicle wheel/track, and the offset wheel is configured to be laterally offset from the corresponding vehicle wheel/track. The wheel position control system is configured to instruct lowering of the aligned wheel and the offset wheel to transition a toolbar assembly to a non-working position, the wheel position control system is configured to instruct raising of the aligned and offset wheels to transition the toolbar assembly to a working position, and the wheel position control system is configured to instruct raising of the offset wheel above the aligned wheel while the toolbar assembly is in the working position such that the offset wheel is disengaged from the soil surface.