Adjustable Chassis Height for Agricultural Vehicle Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural vehicles face challenges in navigating between crop rows due to fixed wheel widths and ground clearance limitations, which restrict their use on varying crop heights, and high clearance vehicles pose transport difficulties and inefficiencies in processing shorter crops.
Innovation Solution
A mobile machine with a chassis that can be adjusted in height using support assemblies with attachment components, suspension, and locking mechanisms, allowing operators to remotely control the height adjustment and maintain optimal positioning for different crop heights.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If high clearance vehicles are used to process taller crops, then ground clearance is improved, but transport height is exceeded and vehicle complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the chassis height adjustable rather than fixed. The support assemblies with actuators enable the chassis to be raised to high clearance positions for processing tall crops and lowered to transport positions for highway travel, transforming a static vehicle into a dynamic system that adapts to different operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of chassis height from a fixed value to a variable parameter that can be adjusted between multiple positions. The support assemblies allow the chassis height to be modified on-demand, enabling the vehicle to switch between high clearance mode for crop processing and low clearance mode for transport, thereby resolving the contradiction between ground clearance and transport ease.
2Ease of operation
If standard height vehicles are used for short crops, then transport ease is improved, but ground clearance is insufficient for taller crops
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the vehicle to dynamically adjust its chassis height using support assemblies with actuators. This allows the vehicle to operate as a standard height vehicle for transport efficiency and as a high clearance vehicle for processing tall crops, eliminating the need to choose between the two fixed configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the vehicle universal by enabling it to perform both functions: transporting efficiently on highways with low chassis height and processing various crop heights in the field with adjustable high chassis height. The support assemblies provide the mechanism for the vehicle to fulfill multiple operational roles that previously required different specialized vehicles.
3Ease of manufacture
If fixed wheel width is used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but adaptability to different row spacings is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics to the wheel width by making it adjustable rather than fixed. The assemblies allow the wheel width to be changed to match different crop row spacings, enabling the vehicle to adapt to various field conditions while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through modular assembly design.
Data Source
AI summary
A machine includes a chassis, a plurality of ground engaging elements supporting the chassis above a ground surface, a motor for driving at least one of the ground engaging elements and a plurality of assemblies supporting the chassis on the ground engaging elements. Each of the assemblies is configured to selectively raise and lower the chassis relative to the ground surface and includes a first attachment component for attaching the assembly to one of the ground engaging elements, a second attachment component for attaching the assembly to the chassis, an adjustment component for shifting the first attachment component between a plurality of operating positions relative to the second attachment component. A control system allows an operator to remotely control the adjustment components of each of the assemblies.