Claims:1. A disc blade assembly (100) for measuring real-time blade forces of an agricultural tillage implement, said tillage implement having a frame, at least one rotary shaft (102) mounted within said frame and at least one first disc (104) coupled to said rotary shaft (102), said first disc (104) having plurality of first ground engaging members (106), said disc blade assembly (100) comprising:
at least one second disc (108) coupled to said rotary shaft (102),
said second disc (108) includes:
a central bore (110) adapted to receive said rotary shaft (102);
a plurality of first apertures (112) defined concentrically above said central bore (110);
a plurality of force measuring elements (114) disposed at a predetermined locations of said first aperture (112); and
a plurality of second ground engaging members (116) coupled annularly above and away from said plurality of first apertures,
wherein,
said plurality of force measuring elements (114) are adapted to generate at least one signal in response to a force exerted on said plurality of second ground engaging members (116) while operating said tillage implement.

2. The disc blade assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of second ground engaging elements (116) includes:
a first blade (116a), said first blade (116a) having first portion (116af) and a second portion (116as) angularly extending from said first portion (116af); and
a second blade (116b), said second blade (116b) having first portion (116bf) and a second portion (116bs) angularly extending from said first portion (116bf).
3. The disc blade assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said force measuring element (114) are four in number, and said force measuring elements (114) are annularly and evenly disposed in said plurality of first apertures (112) defined on said second disc (108).
4. The disc blade assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second disc (108) is disposed adjacent to said first disc (104), and said second disc (108) includes a plurality of second apertures (118) defined concentrically above said plurality of first apertures (112), said second apertures (118) are configured to receive a connecting means to secure said second ground engaging members (116) to said second disc (108).
5. The disc blade assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said force measuring elements (114) is at least a strain gauge based torque sensor.
6. The disc blade assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said force measuring elements (114) are connected to form a bridge circuit which is adapted to generate a torque signal being transmittable from said rotary shaft (102) through at least one slip-ring disposed at one end of said rotary shaft (102).
7. The disc blade assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rotary shaft (102) is a hollow shaft thereby facilitating connection of said bridge circuit to said slip-ring through wires.
8. The disc blade assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said disc blade assembly includes a data acquisition system adapted to record variations in force or torque exerted on second ground engaging members (116) with respect to time, when said second ground engaging members (116) are pulled through soil.
9. The disc blade assembly (100) as claimed in claim 8, wherein said data acquisition system is configured to acquire total torque and thereby measure a blade force data by dividing said acquired torque by a blade tip radius, said blade tip radius is a distance between a mid-point of said second disc (108) and tip of said cutting edge of said at least one second ground engaging members (116).
10. A method (200) of providing a disc blade assembly (100) to measure real-time blade forces of an agricultural tillage implement, said tillage implement having a frame, at least one rotary shaft (102) mounted within said frame and at least one first disc (104) coupled to said rotary shaft (102), said first disc (104) having plurality of first ground engaging members (106), said method (200) comprising:
providing at least one second disc (108) coupled to said rotary shaft (102);
defining a plurality of first apertures (112) concentrically above a central bore (110);
coupling a plurality of second ground engaging members (116) annularly above and away from said plurality of first apertures (112); and
mounting a plurality of force measuring elements (114) to said first aperture (112),
wherein,
each of said force measuring element (114) is adapted to generate at least one signal in response to a force exerted on each of said second ground engaging member (116) while operating said tillage implement.
, Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
The embodiments herein generally relate to tillage implements. More particularly, to a disc blade assembly for measuring real-time blade forces of an agricultural tillage implement.
BACKGROUND
Tillage is one of the most important operations in agriculture. It is done mainly to loosen an upper layer of soil, to mix the soil with fertilizers and to remove weeds. Farmers utilize a wide variety of agricultural tillage implements to prepare the soil for planting. Usually, agricultural tillage implement such as a rotavator is mounted on the agricultural vehicle such as tractor for performing the tilling operation. Some of the rotavators may include two or more sections coupled together to perform multiple functions as they are pulled through fields by the agricultural vehicle. A conventional agricultural implement includes a driven shaft, on which are mounted a plurality of ground engaging blades. The blades erupt the soil from below a seed depth to upwards or ground surface so as to open up the soil and pulverize the soil to a desired condition. The rotavator is mounted on the three-point linkage system of the agricultural vehicle and power to the rotavator is transmitted through Power Take-Off (PTO) of the agricultural vehicle.
In farming applications, it is often desirable to know certain characteristics of the blade in real-time. Blade force estimation is of vital importance in estimating the power consumption by the agricultural implement which is directly related to the fuel consumption. Knowledge of blade force in different operating conditions facilitates in blade arrangement and design optimization, thereby making the implement more efficient. However, the major challenge lies in acquiring blade force data during operation of the agricultural implement in harsh environments. Further, sensors which are used for measuring blade data are not adapted to be positioned directly on the blade region as they are not capable of withstanding the harsh environment as well as high rotational speeds of a rotor shaft. A novel approach is required to mount the sensors at the rotor location without getting damaged as well as generating reliable and robust blade force data.
Therefore, there exists a need for a disc blade assembly for measuring real-time blade forces of an agricultural tillage implement which eliminates the aforementioned drawbacks.

OBJECTS

The principal object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a disc blade assembly for measuring real-time blade forces of an agricultural tillage implement.
Another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a disc blade assembly adapted for receiving a sensor system.
Yet another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a disc blade assembly for an agricultural tillage implement which is inexpensive and easy to manufacture.
Still another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a disc blade assembly which guards the sensors from damage and harsh environments.
Also another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a method of providing a disc blade assembly to measure real-time blade forces of an agricultural tillage implement.
These and other objects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a disc blade assembly for measuring real-time blade forces of an agricultural tillage implement, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of a second disc with second ground engaging members and force measuring elements in assembled condition, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
FIG. 3 depicts a line diagram of the second disc with second ground engaging members and force measuring elements in assembled condition, according to an embodiment as disclosed in FIG. 2; and
FIG. 4 depicts a flow chart indicating a method of providing a disc blade assembly for measuring real-time blade forces of an agricultural tillage implement, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
The embodiments herein disclose a disc blade assembly to measure real-time blade forces of an agricultural tillage implement. Further, the embodiments herein disclose the disc blade assembly adapted for receiving a sensor system. Furthermore, the embodiments herein disclose the disc blade assembly for the agricultural tillage implement which is inexpensive and easy to manufacture. Additionally, the embodiments herein disclose the disc blade assembly which guards the sensors from damage and harsh environments. Also, the embodiments herein disclose a method of providing a disc blade assembly to measure real-time blade forces of an agricultural tillage implement. Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through FIG. 4, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown embodiments.
For the purpose of this description and ease of understanding, the tillage implement is explained herein below with reference to provide a disc blade assembly (100) to an agricultural implement such as a rotavator used in an agricultural vehicle such as tractor to measure real-time blade force data. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to assemble the disc blade assembly (100) in any other tillage implement without otherwise deterring the intended function of the measuring blade parameters as can be deduced from the description and corresponding drawings.
FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a disc blade assembly adapted to measure real-time blade forces of an agricultural tillage implement, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the disc blade assembly (100) for the tillage implement includes a frame (not shown), at least one rotary shaft (102), at least one first disc(104), a plurality of first ground engaging members (106), at least one second disc (108), a central bore (110) (as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3), a plurality of first apertures (112) (as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3), a plurality of force measuring elements (114) (as shown in FIG. 3), a plurality of second ground engaging members(116) (as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3), a first blade (116a) and a second blade (116b) (as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3), and a plurality of second apertures (118) (as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3).
In an embodiment, the tillage implement (not shown) is pulled by the tractor. The tractor has a power take-off shaft (not shown) extending rearward from its body and a drawbar structure mounted on the underside of the body, where the drawbar structure extends rearward from the tractor to terminate at its rearward end in a clevis type connection (not shown). These and all other features of the tractor are conventional and consequently details are neither shown nor described relative to those features.
The tillage implement includes the frame (not shown). The frame is composed of a front transverse beam (not shown) extending across the front end of the agricultural implement. In an embodiment, the frame is configured to be connected to the clevis by means of a pin (not shown). In an embodiment, the frame may be adjusted vertically and relative to the ground. The tillage implement includes the drive shaft (not shown). In an embodiment, the drive shaft (not shown) is rotated by the driving means (not shown). The driving means is rotated by a power take-off unit (PTO) of the tractor. The power take-off unit produces a torque T.
The disc blade assembly (100) includes at least one rotary shaft (102). The rotary shaft (102) is disposed in the frame. The rotary shaft (102) is driven by the drive shaft (not shown) through a drive shaft gear wheel (not shown). In another embodiment, the tillage implement may include a plurality of rotary shafts (102). The first disc (104) is coupled to the rotary shaft (102) at a predetermined location. In an embodiment, a plurality of first discs (104) may be arranged in laterally spaced relationship on the rotary shaft (102). In an embodiment, the plurality of first discs (104) are rotated in a forward direction. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide any rotation direction for the plurality of first discs (104) without otherwise deterring the intended function of the rotation as can be deduced from this description and corresponding drawings.
In an embodiment, each of the first disc (104) includes a plurality of apertures (not shown). The plurality of apertures (not shown) are defined at predetermined locations of each of the first disc (104). Each aperture (not shown) is adapted to receive a connecting means (not shown) there through to secure the first ground engaging members (106) to the first disc (104).
In an embodiment, each of the first disc (104) is adapted to receive the plurality of first ground engaging members (106) (also referred to as blade in this description). The plurality of blades (106) includes at least one left bent blade (not shown) and at least one right bent blade (not shown). In an embodiment, the blades (106) are fabricated in a shape selected from a group comprising L shape, C shape and J shape. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide the blade in any other shape without otherwise deterring the intended function of the blades (106) as can be deduced from this description and corresponding drawings. In an embodiment, the left bent blades (not shown) includes a blade body (not shown) which is bent towards left side of the first disc (104) with respect to a rotational axis (not shown) of the rotary shaft (102). Further, the right bent blade (not shown) includes a blade body (not shown) which is bent towards right side of the first disc (104) with respect to the rotational axis A (not shown) of the rotary shaft (102).
FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of a second disc with second ground engaging members and force measuring elements in assembled condition, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. The disc blade assembly (100) includes at least one second disc (108). The second disc (108) is coupled to the rotary shaft (102) at a predetermined location. The second disc (108) is disposed adjacent to the first disc (104). In an embodiment, the second disc (108) includes a central bore (110), a plurality of first apertures (112), a plurality of second apertures (118), a plurality of second ground engaging members(116) and a plurality of force measuring elements (114). The central bore (110) is defined at the mid-section of the second disc (108). The central bore (110) is adapted to receive the rotary shaft (102) therein. The plurality of first apertures (112) are defined concentrically above the central bore (110). The plurality of first apertures (112) are made up of predetermined shape. Further, the plurality of second apertures (118) are defined concentrically above the plurality of first apertures (112). The second apertures (118) defined on the second disc (108) are adapted to receive a connecting means (not shown) to secure or fix the second ground engaging members (116) to the second disc (108). The plurality of second ground engaging members (116) are coupled to the second disc (108) annularly above and away from the plurality of first apertures (112). In an embodiment, the second ground engaging elements (116) includes a first blade (116a). The first blade (116a) includes a first portion (116af) and a second portion (116as) angularly extending from the first portion (116af). . Further, the second ground engaging elements (116) includes a second blade (116b). The second blade (116b) includes a first portion (116bf) and a second portion (116bs) angularly extending from the first portion (116bf). The first blade (116a) and the second blade (116b) are coupled facing opposite to each other by the connecting means (not shown) which connects the first blade (116a) and the second blade (116b) with the second disc (108). .This arrangement has been provided to the disc blade assembly (100) to ensure that lateral forces due to blade interaction with the soil become nullified. Further, no lateral bending of the blade occurs.
The plurality of force measuring elements (114) are disposed at predetermined locations of the first apertures (112) as shown in FIG. 3. In an embodiment, the force measuring element(114) are four in number. Further, the force measuring elements (114) are annularly and evenly disposed in the plurality of first apertures (112)(as shown in FIG. 3). In an embodiment, the force measuring elements (114) are strain gauge based torque sensors. In an embodiment, the strain gauges are connected electrically in a bridge circuit between four nodes for measuring the torque. The torque sensors disposed on the first apertures (112) of the second disc (108) are adapted to generate at least one signal in response to a force exerted on the second ground engaging members (116) when it is pulled through soil for tilling operation or any other similar operation.
The strain gauge bridge circuit generates the torque signal which can be transmitted to a data acquisition system from the rotary shaft (102) through at least one slip-ring which is disposed at one end of the rotary shaft (102). In an embodiment, the rotary shaft (102) is a hollow shaft which facilitates in connecting the bridge circuit to the slip-ring through wires.
The disc blade assembly (100) includes the data acquisition system (not shown). The data acquisition system is adapted to record variations in force or torque exerted on the second ground engaging members (116) with respect to time, when the second ground engaging members (116) are pulled through soil during the tilling operation or any other similar operation. The data acquisition system is configured to acquire total torque and thereby measure a blade force data using following equation:
Blade Force= (Acquired Torque)/(Blade tip radius)
Wherein,
the blade tip radius is a distance between a mid-point of said second disc (108) and tip of said cutting edge of said second ground engaging members (116).
Further, the data acquisition system is configured to determine a power consumed by the agricultural tillage implement based on positioning of the second ground engaging members (116) on the rotary shaft (102) and acquired blade force data using following equation:
Power Consumped at Rotor (Watts)= (2·p·N·(?_1^n¦?Blade Force ?)·(Blade Tip Radius))/60
Wherein,
n = Number of blades
N = speed of rotary shaft (102) in rpm

FIG. 4 depicts a flow chart indicating a method of providing a disc blade assembly for measuring real-time blade forces of an agricultural tillage implement, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. A method (200) of providing a disc blade assembly (100) to measure real-time blade forces of an agricultural tillage implement is provided. The method (200) includes providing at least one second disc (108) coupled to said rotary shaft (102) (at step 202). Further, the method includes, defining a plurality of first apertures (112) concentrically above a central bore (110) (At step 204). Furthermore, the method includes coupling a plurality of second ground engaging members (116) annularly above and away from said plurality of first apertures (112) (At step 206). Moreover, the method includes mounting a plurality of force measuring elements (114) to said first aperture (112) (At step 208). The force measuring element (114) is adapted to generate at least one signal in response to a force exerted on each of said second ground engaging member (116) while operating said tillage implement.
For the purpose of this invention, empirical relations were developed through lab experimentation of single blade moving in soil bins have been utilized to derive the power consumption which is highly conservative in nature. Lab experiments were performed in a very controlled environment without incorporating variations in the soil and operating conditions. This methodology facilitates designers and other researchers to establish better understanding on the rotor mechanics thereby developing more optimized blade design and material characterization as well as developing fuel-efficient agricultural implement driving mechanism.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.