Wing Toolbar Lift and Downforce Assembly for Narrower Row Spacing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural planting implements face limitations in spacing between rows due to the width of row units, which restricts the spacing between deposited seeds or agricultural products, especially when folding the toolbars for transport.
Innovation Solution
The implement features a connection assembly with actuators that pivotally couple wing toolbars, allowing them to rotate upwardly and downwardly, enabling narrower row spacing during operation and facilitating folding for transport by reducing the implement's width.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the wing toolbars are arranged in a fixed configuration with standard row unit width, then the structural simplicity is maintained, but the spacing between rows of deposited seeds is limited and cannot be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The wing toolbar is divided into two separate sections (first wing toolbar and second wing toolbar) that can move independently relative to each other. This segmentation allows each section to be positioned optimally for different operations, enabling reduced row spacing during planting while maintaining structural simplicity during transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection assembly incorporates an actuator that enables dynamic adjustment of the second wing toolbar's position relative to the first wing toolbar. This dynamic capability allows the system to transition between different configurations (working position with reduced spacing, transport position with folded toolbars) based on operational requirements.
2Area of stationary object
If the wing toolbars are folded forwardly for transport, then the width of the implement is reduced, but the spacing between row units along the length of each wing toolbar becomes limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic positioning of the second wing toolbar relative to the first wing toolbar. During transport, the toolbars are folded forwardly to reduce overall width, while during planting operations, the actuator positions the second wing toolbar to optimize row spacing, effectively decoupling these two requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator system is configured to preliminarily position the second wing toolbar in the desired configuration before planting operations begin. This preliminary positioning ensures optimal row spacing is established ahead of time, allowing the toolbars to then be folded for transport without compromising the previously achieved spacing optimization.
3Productivity
If multiple row units are distributed along the length of each wing toolbar, then the productivity is increased, but the spacing between row units is limited by the toolbar length
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the wing toolbar into two independently controllable sections, the system can distribute row units along the combined length of both sections while maintaining optimal spacing. The first wing toolbar supports a first set of row units and the second wing toolbar supports a second set, with the actuator managing the relative positioning to maximize both capacity and spacing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the vertical dimension through the actuator mechanism to adjust the relative position of the second wing toolbar. This adds a degree of freedom that allows row units to be distributed along the length of both toolbars while maintaining proper spacing, effectively using three-dimensional space to resolve the two-dimensional spacing limitation.
Data Source
AI summary
An agricultural planting implement includes a first wing toolbar configured to support a first set of row units and a second wing toolbar configured to support a second set of row units. The agricultural planting implement also includes a connection assembly having at least one arm pivotally coupling the second wing toolbar to the first wing toolbar. The at least one arm is pivotally coupled to the first wing toolbar and non-pivotally coupled to the second wing toolbar. In addition, the connection assembly includes an actuator configured to drive the second wing toolbar to rotate upwardly relative to the first wing toolbar from a working position to a transport position. The actuator is also configured to urge the second wing toolbar downwardly toward a soil surface while the second wing toolbar is in the working position.