DESIGN OF INLINE SEEDER

Final year project presentation

By Molalign Mulusew

Advisors: Ato Solomon Gebregziabher (MSc.),

Ato Abebe Kebede (BSc.) and
Ir. Fissiha Meresa (MSc.)

MEKELLE UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Science and Technology
Department of Mechanical Engineering

July 1, 2006
 Topics inside
• Objectives
• Limitation
• Background
• Conceptualization
• Design analysis
• Conclusions and Recommendations
 Objectives
• To discus on the present and near past situations of
agricultural system technology and alternative
practices of the glob in general and in Ethiopia in
particular
• To conceptualize models of inline seeders and make
decision on designing one of the best alternative.
• To make design analysis and synthesis for components
that would be incorporated in the generalized system
of the selected seeder model.
• To support the design results with illustrative
sketches and 3d modeling.
• To prepare a clear and feasible production sheet.
 Limitations

• Lack of precise agronomic data on the current

situations of conservation agriculture and farm
technology adaptations in Ethiopia
• Poor awareness of the society on agricultural
technology issues.
• Lack of technical materials on Seeders/Planters
• The deadline of the project
 Background/ Literature
• Conservation Agriculture
(More environmentally sound than conventional practice and as the same time
more economically rewarding for farmers)
Definition :
• A holistic approach to agricultural production
based on the enhancement of soil biological
regeneration through management of soil organic
matter (OM) for the efficient use of rainfall, soil
moisture and plant nutrient . ( FAO)
• The management of agricultural resources in such
a way as to assure that it will continue to provide
maximum benefits to human over the long run.
(Anonyms)
...continued
• Soil tillage
Soil tillage is a mechanical manipulation of soil
including the following main operations:
1. Tilling
2. Planting
3. Harvesting
4. Chopping and shredding
5. Applying pesticides and fertilizers
Types of soil tillage
- Conventional tillage
- Conservation tillage
Reduced tillage
Zero- tillage or no -tillage
...continued
• Bed planting system

Advantages
• Easy to introduce machines
• Mechanical weeding is possible
• Reduced water logging damage
• Better drainage
• Plant stands better
• Facilitates irrigation before seeding
• E.t.c.
…continued
• Farm equipments
• Plough tools
• Seeding equipments.
• Cultivating equipments.
• Harvesting equipments.
• Machines used for applying chemicals.
Seeders/ planters
Seeders are implements that are used to place seed
grains into the soil in such a way that proper spacing
and amount are set as preferred.
 Conceptualization
This is the first phase of the design process at which
many alternatives are discussed, compared and one
among them is selected as best way to meet the
anticipated need.
Basic considerations
To provide adjustable seeding mechanism for wheat and
maize.
To accommodate additional mechanism to place fertilizers.
To achieve required placement spacing.
Between rows of seeds
Between rows of fertilizer
Between rows of seed and fertilizer, and
Inter-row gaps both for seeds and fertilizer
…continued
• Main component is metering device
Different alternative mechanisms assessed
1. Model A:
A - spring loaded sliding meters reciprocated by circular discs
with circumferential extrusion at adjusted space.
2. Model B:
B -spring loaded single slider with many holes that are
reciprocated by the hub of the wheel.
3. Model C:
C -metering cylinders attached with a rotating shaft, and with
two rows of holes at specified spacing for allowing seed and
fertilizer grains pass across.
4. Model D:
D -grooved solid disc driven by the hubs of the wheel using
belt or chain power drive.
5. Model E:
E -a slider mechanism driven by magnetic strips attached to a
rotating shaft at specified position.
6. Model F:
F -a rotating splined shaft or a splined disc attached to a
rotating shaft.
…continued
• Decision and Conclusion
• The alternative in ‘Model C’, mechanism with grooved disc
meters is selected based on the following points:
• Physical requirements: -Average size of components, Number
of components, Complexity, Weight, Operability etc.
• Mechanical requirements: -Wear failure avoidance, Fatigue and
creep failure prevention, Corrosion failure avoidance, Deflection,
Buckling and jerk avoidance, Reliability, Durability, Stability etc.
• Materials requirements: -Strength, Availability, Affordability,
Manufacturability, Maintainability etc.

These points are weighted and compared reasonably

for each alternative performing Design matrix
relations.
 Design analysis
In this part all components that comprehensively
make the inline seeder and found need analysis are
discussed and explained mathematically.
 The different parts are discussed as follows.
follows
1. Axle and shaft
Material for the axle/shaft is Plain carbon steel (dead milled steel)
Carbon content % (0.05 to 0.15): Ultimate strength su = 410 Mpa
Yield strength sy =273 Mpa
Elastic limit = 217 Mpa
Considerations: bending and shear
Results:
Part QTY Diameter Length Description
(mm) (mm)
Axle 2 32 70 It is welded to the frame and on which the bearing runs.

Shaft 1 20 1100 Which carries the metering discs and belt driven to one end
…continued
2. Bearings
type: Journal bearing
material: - Wood
considerations: mechanical strength
heat dissipation capacity
surface property (coefficient of friction)
1-set screws used to fit the two halves of the
bearing.
2-Cover plate,

3- bearing

Results:
Bearing QTY Diameter Length Descriptions
type (mm) (mm)

Inside outer

Axle 2 32 52 60 Its outer shape is regular octagon circumscribed by

bearing a circle of the given radius
Shaft 2 20 30 30 Its outer shape is regular quadrilateral inscribed in
bearing circle of diameter douter=30mm
…continued
3. Wheel
Two types of wheel are equally preferable for different
requirements with different properties.
1. metallic (steel): which has perfect circular circumference.
2. Wooden: which has circumferential shape of regular polygon of
reasonable numbers
Considerations: mechanical strength, traction, life, availability,
affordability, manufacturability, etc
Results:
Wheel type QTY Diameter (mm) length/ description
width
inside outer other
(mm)

Metallic Hub 2 52 62 60 Shape is regular octagon

arm/spoke 24 20 100 Weld joint both at rim and hub
ends
rim 2 320 326 30 Sheet metal made to circle
wooden Hub 2 52 62 60 Provided with flange to attach
wood pieces
Body 2 62 326 30 Regular polygon circumference
…continued
4. Power transmission
belt power transmission is selected and the analysis is based on
flat belt and then equivalent V-belts would be used.
Belt material: leather
Pulley material: wood or steel.( analysis is based on wood)
Considerations: geometrical fitness, cost and availability

results:
Part QTY Diameter Width Cross Length Description
(mm) (mm) section (mm)
mm2
Large 1 1000 30+10 It is screwed to the wheel hub
pulley

Belt 1 30 5x30 1102 End connection is by wire clips

Small 1 25 30+10 Fixed to the shaft end with splines and end
pulley cover
…continued
5. Metering disc
which is analyzed for suitable adjustment of seed and fertilizer
flow.
Material: steel sheet and bars
Considerations;-Geometrical suitability for different
-seed sizes and for different seed rates
-easy of adjustability
-cost and manufacturability
1-Disc arm: - steel plate or rod, 2-Disc hub: -made of steel plate
3-Disc rim, 4-Grooves for seed, 5-Grooves for fertilizer

Results:
Part QTY Diameter Thickness length description
(mm) (mm) (mm)
Disc hub 4 20 3 to 5 30 It is screwed to the shaft
Arm 4 x 10 5 to 10 20 Welded at both ends
rim 4 80 1 to 2 2 x 15 Made to suitable shape to
accommodate seeds and fertilizers
Seed groove 4 x 10 10 15 Adjusted by inserting wood pins

Fertilizer 4 x 10 15 15 Adjusted by inserting wood pins

groove
…continued
6. Frame and compartment
the frame and the compartment of the seeder body includes many
parts.
material;: - steel
Considerations:- strength, stability, easy of
manufacturability, cost and availability

Results of some of the main components

part QTY Length Cross section Thickness Description
(mm) (mm2) (mm)
Vertical beam 2 570 30 x 50 3 Standard RHS

Horizontal main 1 1000 30 x 50 3 Standard RHS

beam

Horizontal 1 1060 30 x 50 2.5 to 4 Standard RHS

opener attaching

Pulling bar 2 115 5 x 30 5 Provided with hole at the free

end for attachment to the
beam from the yoke
…continued
7. Opener and covering device
Two types of opener are analyzed;
1) Rectangular solid rod
2) circular hollow tube
Material: steel for both( standard rod and tube)
Considerations: bending, shear, crushing, suitability for seed placement,
easy of manufacturing, cost, availability etc.

Results are:

Opener type QTY Length Diameter Cross section thickness Description

(mm) (mm) (mm2) (mm)
Rectangular 4x3 20 x 20 The shearing edge is made
solid rod by forging to the desired
shape
Circular 4x3 22 1.5 Shearing edge is created by
hollow tube cutting at some angle
 Conclusion
More or less it has been tried to reflect the features
of the inline seeder, to generalize the presentation
the following points are forwarded.

• Assumption and compromising are taken in the design part to

some parts reasonably
• There are more significant parts yet not presented as a result
of time limitation and therefore all have gone through similar
procedures presented here
• The results obtained so far may be modified to meet
circumstances and local conditions.
• All parts and members are locally producible with less
investment.
• And finally, with the data presented and other more illustrations
in the report it can be concluded that the project has met the
objectives efficiently.
 Recommendations
• To the feasibility of the project more practical level are yet to
be performed, hence it is recommended to follow up the living
concern to the end.

• There is lack of clear and precise information on situation of the

development of agriculture technology in Ethiopia therefore it is
recommended that such things should be inputs to projects like
design of inline seeder.

• And at last works on agriculture related topics are of great

benefit to our social cum natural situations therefore it is
recommended to provide better project titles to the coming
years.
d
 Model A

1-Variable face slider

Closed Open

1 2 3 4 5

1-Disc, 2-Shaft, 3-Slider, 4-Spring and spring house, 5-Compartment

Fig 1.Spring loaded metering mechanism (rotating shaft)
 Model B

Single slider

a) b)

Fig 2.Spring loaded single slider metering mechanism (fixed shaft)

a) Opened condition, and

b) Closed condition.
 Model C

Figure 3.Grooved solid disc

 Model D
a) b)
4

1 2 3
1-Compartment, 2-Cylinderical meter, 3-shaft, 4- Holes for seed and
fertilizer
Fig 4. Cylindrical seed and fertilizer metering
a) Opened condition, and
b) Closed condition
 Model E

1-Magnetic strips

2-spring loaded metallic plate

Model F