Agricultural Trailer Coupling with Variable Guide Distance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing towing devices for agricultural working vehicles are not compact enough, leading to increased width and manufacturing costs, and lack a clear distinction between working and transport positions, which affects storage and operational safety.
Innovation Solution
A compact towing device with vertically aligned side walls and a plate with a K80 ball head coupling, featuring a reduced guide distance for flat steel lower links and a height-adjustable coupling device, allowing for a 5-position 3/1 hitch with a transport position that securely stows the ball tray and prevents coupling in that position, using a hold-down device and locking pins for security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a larger guide distance between side walls is used, then the towing device has more space for component installation, but the width of the towing device increases and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The side walls have different guide distances at different locations: a larger guide distance in the upper area for component installation and a smaller guide distance at the lower ends for cost-effective flat steel lower links. This local variation in geometry resolves the contradiction by providing necessary space where needed while minimizing overall width and manufacturing costs.
2Ease of operation
If the plate is fixed in a horizontal working position, then coupling operations are easy to perform, but the ball tray cannot be securely stowed during transport and accidental coupling cannot be prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The plate is made movable between a horizontal working position for easy coupling operations and an inclined transport position for secure stowing and prevention of accidental coupling. The hold-down device and locking pins enable this dynamic repositioning, resolving the contradiction by allowing the plate to adapt its orientation based on operational requirements.
3Reliability
If the plate is inclined in the transport position, then secure stowing and prevention of accidental coupling are achieved, but coupling operations become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The plate can be dynamically repositioned between inclined transport position for safety and horizontal working position for ease of operation. The hold-down device and locking pins facilitate this transition, ensuring that coupling operations remain easy when performed in the horizontal position while maintaining transport safety in the inclined position.
4Area of stationary object
If expensive curved lower links are used, then the towing device can accommodate larger guide distances, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The side walls provide a larger guide distance in the upper area where curved lower links would be installed, while maintaining a smaller guide distance at the lower ends. This allows the use of cost-effective flat steel lower links in the constrained lower area while still providing adequate space for component installation in the upper area.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a trailer coupling device for an agricultural work vehicle, with two side cheeks 12 supported at the rear of the vehicle and vertically aligned, and a plate 32 carrying a coupling member 34, wherein the plate can be inserted into a working position in mutually facing horizontal guide grooves 30 at the lower ends of the side cheeks.