WO2023043420A1

WO2023043420A1 - A planting machine

Info

Publication number: WO2023043420A1
Application number: PCT/TR2022/051006
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gürkan İrsel
Original assignee: TC Trakya Ueniversitesi
Current assignee: TC Trakya Ueniversitesi
Priority date: 2021-09-20
Filing date: 2022-09-19
Publication date: 2023-03-23
Anticipated expiration: 2024-03-20
Also published as: TR2021014693A2

Abstract

The invention relates to a planting machine that keeps the planting depth of the machine planter end realized in the planting field continuously equal by the automation system within the tolerance determined by the desired planting depth in order to provide accurate planting at the desired planting depth.

Description

A PLANTING MACHINE

Technical Field of the Invention

State of the Art of the Invention (Prior Art)

The planting depth of all agricultural plants with grain seeds such as sunflower com and wheat is important. Planting depth affects seed output, the root structure of the plant, and thus agricultural productivity.

Today, the planting machine (planter) is divided into two parts; pneumatic and universal planting machines. These planting machines are used in the production of the most common plants in the world such as wheat, sunflower, canola, and corn. All of these machines use planter ends that cut through the soil and make the seed fall into this cavity.

The pneumatic planting machine (planter) glues the seed to a plate with the help of a vacuum, and when the required distance is reached, it delivers the seed to the planter end by means of a hose or a channel.

On other hand, the universal planting machines deliver the seed to the planter end by means of a hose with discs containing gear-like cavities and rotating in proportion to the progress.

The selection of planter ends used in planting machines has different designs in the form of axes, single discs, double discs, and spring axes depending on the soil structure. Regardless of the shape of the planter end, the depth of the falling seed is determined by the depth of immersion of this planting apparatus in the soil. The adjustment of the planting depth of the planting machine is determined by the amount of penetration of the planter end into the soil.

Existing planting machines carry out the planting process on the soil with carrier wheels. The height difference between the contact of these wheels to the ground and the planter apparatus is the planting depth. This depth is determined by the operator by turning the nut and a long threaded shaft on the nut on the existing couplers.

However, in existing planting machines, the planting depth adjustment requires special adjustments according to the structure of the soil. There are factors affecting the depth of planting when the machine is moving on the carrier wheels. These factors are as follows:

1- Carrier wheel width, diameter size, and the ability to carry the pattern depending on the mechanics of the ground.

2- The amount of seeds and fertilizers varies in machine warehouses. First of all, the full tank decreases as the planting process is carried out. In an overall 3-meter wide wheat planting machine and a 4-row pneumatic sunflower, the weight in the corn planting machine is approximately 350 kg. For this reason, there is a depth change due to weight change.

3- Planting depth varies depending on different soil structures in the same planting area. It is even more difficult for the wheels to maintain the machine depth, especially in areas where the ground structure is mostly formed by sand.

4- Moving up and down in the slope direction in sloping terrain affects the depth. In upward movement, the seed remains higher than desired in deep downward movement.

5- Passing through the convex or concave surface affects the depth. A deep planting depth is obtained in the convex and a plaster planting depth is obtained in the concave.

6- In the case of movement in the direction perpendicular to the slope, a part of the machine performs deeper planting as more load is applied to one of the machine carrier wheels. Because the load acting on the two carrier wheels is different.

Under the influence of the above factors, the seed cannot be planted to a standard depth. This has many effects from seed output to crop productivity. With the existing machines, the seed is planted at a greater depth than desired and if the error is big, the seed may not come out or come out late or may decay until it comes out. The fact that the seed is planted too deeply causes the seed to be lost by not growing as well as it causes many financial and temporal losses such as planting, preparing seed bed again, consuming seed again, and the time of planting being late compared to other areas.

If the seed is at a depth smaller than desired, it is extremely vulnerable to the external environment. Especially, the seeds remaining in the excess plaster perform an early emergence, and the plants emerging early are more exposed to wind and other natural phenomena.

Existing planters (planting machines) carry out the planting process on the soil with carrier wheels. The height difference between the contact of these wheels to the ground and the planter apparatus is the planting depth. This depth is determined by the operator by turning the nut and a long threaded shaft on the nut on the existing couplers. However, in existing planting machines, the planting depth adjustment varies according to the structure of the soil. For this reason, areas with soil structure differences are divided into sections and planted separately, and this process causes time and financial losses. If segmentation is not performed, the operator tries to prevent excessive depth by applying a lifting force upwards with the tractor three-point suspension system. This is a non-standard procedure. Although the process depends on the capabilities of the operator, it is also influenced by the amount of wheel sinking of the tractor and especially its position. As a result, the planting depth cannot be precisely achieved even though the operator exerts excessive effort. Existing products do not offer a solution for changes depending on the ground and surface structure.

Brief Description and Objects of the Invention

In this invention, the height of the machine carrier wheels is driven by hydraulic cylinders, not by an endless screw mechanism. Depending on the desired sensitivity, the machine depth measurement is controlled by an electronic linear ruler and ground contact wheel. With this system, the planting depth is precisely controlled economically. Moreover, this system also serves as a suspension system for the machine, the machine is minimally affected by vibrations.

Definitions of Figures Describing the Invention

The figures prepared for a better understanding of the planting machine developed by this invention are explained below.

Figure 1: Excellent seeding depth in case the tractor and the existing machine seeding machine carrier wheels do not sink in the soil. (Prior Art)

Figure 2: Machine location and planting depth in existing planting machines on the soil (Prior Art)

Figure 3: Increase of planting depth error with existing planting machines on a convex ground. (Prior Art)

Figure 4: Fully automatic, "carrier wheel driven", depth adjustable planting machine

Figure 5: Automatic depth adjustment system driven from the "tractor hydraulic armseeding machine connection point"

Figure 6: Depth adjustment system driven from "carrier wheel and tractor hydraulic arm connection point" of the planting machine

Figure 7: Fully automatic depth adjusting planting machine driven from tractor hydraulic arms

Components of the Invention and Definitions of Parts

The parts and elements in the planting machine developed by this invention are individually numbered and are given below. 1 Planting Ground Sectional View

2 Planter End

3 Planting Machine (Planter) Carrier Wheel

4 Planting Machine Depth Adjustment (Endless screw mechanism)

5 Main Chassis

6 Seed and Fertilizer Tank

7 Tractor Rear Wheel

8 Planting Area Upper Surface

9 Tractor

10 Connection Mechanism

11 Hydraulic Cylinder

12 Tractor Hydraulic Inlet Outlet Connection

13 Height Detection Wheel

14 Sliding Shaft

15 Position Detection Sensor

16 Desired Planting Depth

17 Instantaneous Actual Planting Depth

18 Planting Depth Error Amount

19 Planting Machine Carrier Wheel Sinking Amount

20 Tractor Wheel Sinking Amount

21 Joint

22 Effective Hydraulic Cylinder from Tractor Connection

23 Effective Hydraulic Cylinder Connection from Tractor Connection

24 Tractor Connection Arm

25 Tractor Three Point Connection Middle Arm

Detailed Description of the Invention

With the invention, the planting depth (17) of the machine planter end (2) realized in the planting field (1) is continuously kept by the automation system within the tolerance determined by the desired planting depth (16) in order to provide accurate planting (16=17) at the desired planting depth (16) by the planting machine (universal or pneumatic). In this way, the seed is planted in the seedbed at the desired depth, in a precise and economical form. Here, the position towards the upper surface of the planting area will be called down and the opposite position will be called upper/top.

The planting machine carrier wheel sinking amount (19) and the sinking amount (20) of the rear wheel (7) of the tractor reveal the necessity of adjusting the planting depth in accordance with the soil mechanics. In this invention, there is a system that detects the upper surface (8) of the planting area. In this system, there is a height detection wheel (13). The height detection wheel (13) can move up and down thanks to the sliding shaft (14) to which it is connected. The position detection sensor (15) positioned at the upper end of the sliding shaft electrically measures the height position of the height detection wheel (13) relative to the main chassis (5) of the machine. The position detection sensor (15) activates the upper limit switch or the lower limit switch. If the upper limit switch is active, the planting machine carrier wheel (3) height adjustment apparatus aid moves forward (down to the upper surface of the planting area). If the lower limit switch is active, the hydraulic cylinder (11) moves in the reverse (upstream) direction. Thus, the carrier wheel at the end of the height adjustment apparatus moves upwards. In another embodiment of the invention, a linear ruler is used instead of the position detection sensor (15). If the height is desired to be measured with the linear ruler, the linear ruler is connected parallel to the sliding shaft (14).

By changing the position of the position detection sensor (15) at the end of the sliding shaft (14), the desired planting depth (16) is also determined. A programming card evaluates the height position of the height detection wheel (13) as an electrical signal and energizes the solenoid valve as the output signal. This solenoid valve moves up and down the hydraulic cylinder (11). This up and down movement is transmitted by means of the connection mechanism (10) to which the carrier wheel (3) is connected. In this way, the machine planter end (2) always proceeds in the same depth (16=17) with respect to the upper surface within the desired tolerance. The drive of the hydraulic cylinder (11) is provided by the tractor (9) pump through the tractor hydraulic inlet outlet connection (12) connected to the tractor outlets. This system is especially important for pneumatic planting machines. Because the sunflower seed is highly affected by the depth of emergence.

In addition to this system, depth automation can be made more effective with the connection of the hydraulic cylinder (22) to the Planting Machine-Tractor Hydraulic Arm connection on the tractor connection arm (24). This hydraulic cylinder (22) moves up and down in a hollowed joint (21). The hydraulic cylinder (22) of this system is also fed by the effective hydraulic cylinder connection (23) from the tractor connection. In this way, the machine depth adjustment can be performed successfully at the highest level. In addition, as can be seen in Figure 7, the depth automation system provides a sustainable depth only when it is carried out through the connection arms (24). This provides an economical solution for the invention.

In case the machine planting speed is over 6 km/h, or when extreme sensitivity is desired, the depth adjustment hydraulic cylinders must be supplied by an additional hydraulic unit, and this hydraulic system must have an oil cooling system.

The automation system can be easily realized with many control cards such as PIC, PLC, Programmable Logo, and Arduino.

Claims

CLAIMS A planting machine that keeps the planting depth of the machine planter end realized in the planting field continuously equal by the automation system within the tolerance determined by the desired planting depth in order to provide accurate planting at the desired planting depth, comprising

• A planter end (2), which cleaves the soil and causes the seed to fall into this cavity,

• A planting machine carrier wheel (3) performing the planting process over the soil and carrying the system,

• A seed and fertilizer tank (6),

• The main chassis (5) in which the planter end (2) is connected to the carrier wheel (3) and the seed and fertilizer tank, characterized in that it comprises:

• A height detection wheel (13) used to determine the height in contact with the upper surface of the planting area,

• A sliding shaft (14) to which the height detection wheel (13) is connected and which can be moved up and down,

• A position detection sensor (15) measuring the height position of the height detection wheel (13) positioned at the upper end of the sliding shaft (14) relative to the main chassis (5),

• A connection mechanism (10) that provides the connection of the planting machine carrier wheel (3) with the main chassis (5),

• A hydraulic cylinder (11) which enables the planting machine carrier wheel (3) to move up or down relative to the position detected by the position detection sensor (15) depending on the upper limit switch and the lower limit switch being active and located between the main chassis (5) and the connection mechanism (10),

• A tractor hydraulic inlet outlet connection (12) which enables the transfer of the drive received by the tractor hydraulic pump to the hydraulic cylinder (11),

8 • A tractor three point connection middle arm (25) located on the main chassis (5),

• A control card in which the position detected by the position detection sensor (15) is received and processed. A planting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises:

• A hollowed joint (21) located between the tractor connection arm (24) and the main chassis (5),

• An effective hydraulic cylinder (22) from the tractor connection that can move up and down in the joint (21),

• An effective hydraulic cylinder connection (23) from the tractor connection feeding the hydraulic cylinder (22). A planting machine according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that a linear ruler is used instead of the position detection sensor (5). A planting machine according to claims 1, 2 or claim 3, characterized in that it has a hydraulic unit that provides the hydraulic cylinder supply instead of the tractor. A planting machine according to claim 4, characterized in that the hydraulic unit has an oil cooling system.

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