Agricultural Machine Tool Height Stabilization via Chassis-Axis Swivel Arm
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural machines with height adjustment units face issues where changes in the relative angle of the support frame are transmitted to the tool elements, causing them to either sink into or lift off the ground, leading to contamination or poor processing results when driving over uneven terrain.
Innovation Solution
The swivel axis of the swivel arm is aligned with the main chassis axis, preventing the transmission of relative angle changes to the tool elements, and the height adjustment unit is articulated only on the bearing housing and swivel arm, ensuring the selected height setting remains consistent. This configuration creates a stable triangular structure that twists around the main chassis axis, maintaining the set height and orientation of the tool elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the height adjustment unit is articulated to the support frame and swivel arm, then height adjustment capability is provided, but changes in the relative angle of the support frame are transmitted to the tool elements, causing them to either drop and dig into the ground or be lifted too high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a swivel arm as an intermediary component between the support frame and the central machine. The swivel arm is articulated to the support frame at one end and to the central machine at the other end, with a swivel axis that coincides with the main chassis axis. This intermediary absorbs and isolates the relative angle changes between the support frame and main chassis, preventing these changes from being transmitted to the tool elements. The swivel arm acts as a buffer that maintains the height setting of the tool elements while still allowing the support frame to pivot over uneven ground.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the swivel axis moves around the main chassis axis, then the support frame can adapt to uneven ground, but the tines do not maintain the set height and either dig into the ground or are lifted too high
Solution Approach 1:
The swivel arm serves as a mediator that decouples the motion of the support frame from the central machine. When the support frame pivots to adapt to uneven ground, the swivel arm rotates around the main chassis axis, absorbing these angular changes. This prevents the tool elements from experiencing height variations, ensuring they maintain a consistent height setting and reliably perform their function without digging into the ground or being lifted too high.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an equipotential condition for the tool elements by ensuring they maintain a constant height relative to the ground regardless of support frame pivoting. The swivel arm mechanism ensures that the central machine and its tool elements remain at a stable height position, equivalent to a constant potential state, while the support frame adapts to terrain variations. This equipotentiality is achieved by articulating the central machine to the swivel arm rather than directly to the support frame.
Data Source
AI summary
In an agricultural machine (M) with a support frame (1) having a main chassis (H) with a main chassis axle (4) and a central machine (K) coupled thereto, which has at least one driven tool (W) which is articulated via a tool frame (5) to a pivoting arm (12) which is pivotable relative to the support frame (1), and with a height adjustment unit (17) articulated at least to the pivoting arm (12), the pivot axis of the pivoting arm (12) is arranged directly in the main chassis axle (4).