A tractor implement lays clear plastic film and colorful rainbow netting into rows of tilled soil in a sunlit farm field.

Towable Low‑Tunnel Net/Plastic Installer — Design Specification A tractor‑towable implement that automatically places evenly‑spaced hoops or ground tines, lays rainbow (photoselective) netting or plastic film, forms the tunnel edges, and cuts the cover at programmed intervals. --- 0) Design Goals & Constraints Primary goals: Evenly spaced hoop or tine placement (e.g., 0.6–1.2 m spacing). Continuous net/film laydown with controlled web tension and tracking. Edge forming: soil tuck or staple/tine pin‑down for wind stability. Interval cutting to create individual bays/sections without stopping. Field constraints: 4 ft (1.22 m) to 6 ft (1.83 m) bed tops, 8–12 ft (2.4–3.6 m) overall field lanes. Compatible with Category I/II 3‑point or drawbar tow. Ground speeds 0.8–2.5 m/s (1.8–5.6 mph). Cover materials: Photoselective rainbow nets (20–40% shade), clear/opaque LDPE films (25–50 μm), or co‑extruded photoselective films. Roll diameters ≤1.4 m; mass ≤120 kg each. --- 1) System Architecture (Modules) 1. Chassis & Hitch Welded rectangular‑tube frame (100×50×6 mm main rails) with adjustable track width (1.3–2.2 m). Cat I/II 3‑pt hitch or drawbar tongue; jack stand; torsion axle option for road transport. 2. Ground Reference & Sync 2 × 16–18" trailing gauge wheels with encoder (2000 CPR) on one wheel for master line speed. Spring‑loaded to maintain contact. 3. Hoop/Tine Placement Subsystem (two interchangeable heads) Hoop Magazine & Driver (low tunnel hoops) Hoop magazine holds See more