Chameleon Ripper: A Tillage Device That Senses Soil Conditions, Developed at Bryansk SAU

Scientists at Bryansk State Agrarian University have patented an improved soil ripper. The design is intended for agricultural work and allows for high-quality processing of areas with varying soil resistance — from soft chernozem to heavy clay. The main innovation is a special spring that automatically adapts to soil density.

The lower bent end of the spring is inserted into a hole in the shank of the working tool. The upper part passes through a hole in the bracket and enters a cup welded on top. Inside the cup is a piston that moves with a screw mechanism with a handle. By rotating the handle, the operator can adjust the spring tension, adapting the ripper to specific conditions.

The ripper itself is made in the form of a C-shaped elastic shank, which is attached to the frame by a horizontal hinge. A share is fixed at the bottom of the shank, and vertical cutting knives are installed at the ends of its wings. During operation, the ripping depth changes depending on soil resistance: on hard sections, the spring compresses more, on soft sections, less, maintaining stable processing quality.

The technical result achieved by the developers is an improvement in work quality on soils with different resistance. The unit does not require constant readjustment when moving from one field to another. The patent has been obtained. The development can be applied in tillage machinery for farms and large agricultural enterprises.