Adjustable Camber Axle for Agricultural Balers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural balers face issues with axle bowing and tire wear due to adjustable wheel stance, which causes changes in wheel angle, leading to excessive tire wear when the wheel stance is widened for operation or transportation.
Innovation Solution
An undercarriage system with a hollow axle and a stub axle, where a lock arrangement and adjustment devices, such as shims or wedges, are used to adjust the wheel stance and compensate for camber angle changes, preventing axle bowing and tire wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the wheel stance is widened for operation, then the baler can straddle and not compact the windrow, but the axles bow downward causing excessive tire wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a telescopic axle system where the inner axle can slide within the outer axle, allowing the wheel stance to be dynamically adjusted between wide and narrow positions. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the baler to adapt to different operational conditions while maintaining proper axle alignment through the camber adjustment mechanism, thereby preventing excessive tire wear even when operating with a wide wheel stance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs camber adjustment devices that change the camber angle parameter of the wheels to compensate for axle bowing. By adjusting the camber angle, the system counteracts the downward bowing of axles that occurs with wide wheel stance, thereby preventing the inward tipping of wheels and reducing excessive tire wear while maintaining the benefits of wide stance operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the wheel stance is adjusted for different field conditions, then the baler can accommodate various windrow widths, but the camber angle changes cause excessive tire wear
Solution Approach 1:
The telescopic axle system allows dynamic adjustment of wheel stance for different field conditions while the camber adjustment mechanism dynamically compensates for alignment changes. This dual-adjustment system maintains proper wheel alignment regardless of wheel stance position, thereby extending tire life while preserving the ability to accommodate various windrow widths.
Solution Approach 2:
The camber adjustment devices provide a feedback mechanism that compensates for alignment changes caused by wheel stance adjustment. By monitoring and correcting camber angle changes, the system ensures that tire wear is minimized even when frequently adjusting wheel stance to accommodate different field conditions and windrow widths.
3Length of moving object
If the axles are made longer to increase wheel stance, then the baler can straddle wider windrows, but the axles become more prone to bowing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a telescopic axle design where an inner axle is nested within an outer axle. This nested structure allows the effective length and wheel stance to be increased when needed, while the inner axle can slide within the outer axle to maintain proper alignment. The nesting arrangement prevents the outer axle from bowing by allowing the inner axle to compensate for alignment changes, thereby maintaining stable axle composition even with increased wheel stance width.
Solution Approach 2:
The telescopic mechanism allows the axle system to dynamically adjust its configuration. When wide wheel stance is needed, the inner axle extends within the outer axle; when narrow stance is needed, it retracts. This dynamic adjustment maintains optimal axle alignment and prevents bowing regardless of the extended length, preserving structural stability while enabling increased wheel stance width.
Data Source
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AI summary
An undercarriage (40) for an agricultural machine (10) includes a hollow axle (46), and a stub axle (48) slidably received within the hollow axle (46). A lock arrangement (50) locks a longitudinal position of the stub axle (48) relative to the hollow axle (46). At least one shim (57) is positioned at an outboard end (60) of the hollow axle (46) to adjust the distance between said stub axle (48) and said hollow axle (46).