Adjustable Support Beams for Hay Maker Ground Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large hay-making machines face issues with maintaining precise ground contour following due to cumulative play and wear in articulated connections, leading to suboptimal working results as the machines age, and existing solutions either lack adjustability or increase weight and cost.
Innovation Solution
The hay-making machine design incorporates eccentric pivot bolts and flange connections to allow for adjustable support beams, enabling precise alignment and ground adaptation without additional components, allowing for rotating and angular adjustments to maintain optimal working rotor distance from the ground.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the working width of the machine is increased, then the productivity is improved, but the cumulative play in articulated connections increases leading to poor ground adaptation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the support beams adjustable and rotatable relative to each other about a longitudinal axis, transforming a static structure into a dynamic one. This allows the side parts to adapt to ground contours and compensate for cumulative play in articulated connections, maintaining ground adaptation precision even as working width increases
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables change in the relative position and orientation parameters of support beams through rotation about the longitudinal axis. This parameter adjustment compensates for cumulative play and elastic deformations, allowing the machine to maintain precise ground following across increased working widths
2Device complexity
If standard articulated connections are used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the manufacturing precision deteriorates due to cumulative play
Solution Approach 1:
The support beams are equipped with rotation capability about their longitudinal axis, allowing dynamic adjustment to compensate for alignment errors. This simple rotational mechanism corrects cumulative play without requiring complex precision manufacturing or additional alignment components
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable support beams can be rotated to self-correct alignment issues caused by manufacturing tolerances and wear. The system performs its own alignment function without requiring external adjustment mechanisms or complex control systems
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional adjustment components are added, then the adaptability is improved, but the weight and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The existing articulated connections serve dual purposes: they enable folding of side parts for transport and they provide the rotational axis for adjusting support beam alignment. This multi-functionality adds adaptability without requiring separate adjustment mechanisms, avoiding additional weight and cost
Solution Approach 2:
The support beams are designed with rotational freedom about their longitudinal axis, adding a degree of freedom that provides adjustment capability. This simple dynamic feature achieves adaptability without complex mechanisms or additional components
Data Source
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AI summary
The machine i.e. trailed rotary tedder (1), has a machine beam (5) aligned transverse to a traveling direction (F). Working gyros (9) are supported on a bottom surface (B) of the machine. The beam comprises side pieces (7, 8) that are pivoted into a transport position. The beam is divided into single carrier beams (13) by articulated joints (14) that are formed as hinge bolt connections. The side pieces comprise adjustment devices i.e. eccentric hinge pins, for aligning the carrier beams to each other. The adjustment devices comprise securing elements i.e. screwing lugs.