Applicator Boom Tilt Frame for Undulating Terrain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional boom applicators for agricultural applications are excessively heavy, leading to potential damage when operating over undulating terrain due to their cantilevered support designs, which distribute weight unfavorably and result in an overly heavy supporting structure.
Innovation Solution
A tilting boom applicator design featuring a lift assembly with first and second lift arms and a tilt frame that allows vertical shifting and tilting of the boom, with a frame pivot joint enabling longitudinal tilting while limiting movement about a lateral pitch axis, thereby distributing weight more evenly and preventing damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a cantilevered support design is used to allow boom tilting, then the boom can tilt about the longitudinal axis, but the supporting structure becomes unduly heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into two independent sections: a first section supporting the boom at a first location, and a second section supporting the boom at a second location. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized independently, reducing the overall weight while maintaining tilting capability through the frame pivot joint between sections.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame pivot joint merges the function of support and tilting mechanism into a single integrated component. The pivot joint serves both as a structural connection point and as the tilting mechanism, eliminating the need for separate heavy tilting actuators and reducing overall structure weight.
2Length of moving object
If the boom weight is located at a longitudinal distance from the vehicle in a cantilevered configuration, then the boom can extend laterally, but the supporting structure becomes excessively heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The second section of the frame acts as a counterbalancing element to the first section. By positioning the second support section at a different longitudinal location and allowing it to pivot, the system creates a counterbalancing effect that reduces the overall moment arm and decreases the weight required in the supporting structure.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a heavy boom assembly is used to support the boom laterally, then the boom can maintain position, but the heavy weight can cause damage to the booms or applicator during spraying operations over undulating terrain
Solution Approach 1:
The support system transitions from a static cantilevered structure to a dynamic system with a frame pivot joint that allows controlled movement. This dynamic capability enables the boom assembly to adapt to terrain variations without requiring excessive weight for stability, as the pivot joint provides natural movement freedom.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the degree of freedom parameter by introducing a pivot joint that allows rotational movement about the longitudinal axis. This parameter change from fixed to movable configuration reduces the weight requirement while maintaining operational stability through controlled tilting capability.
Data Source
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AI summary
A tilting boom applicator broadly includes a laterally- extending applicator boom a lift (24), and a tilt frame (26). The lift includes upper (70) and lower (72) lift arms that support the applicator boom and are operable to vertically shift the applicator boom. The tilt frame (26) interconnects the applicator boom and lift and includes a fixed section (116) mounted to upper lift arms (70) and a swinging (118) section mounted to the applicator boom. The frame sections are attached to each other at a frame pivot joint (194) that defines a longitudinal tilt axis, with the frame pivot joint permitting tilting movement of the applicator boom relative to the lift about the longitudinal tilt axis. Lower lift arms (72) are directly attached to the swinging section (118) to limit movement of the applicator boom relative to the lift about a lateral pitch axis while permitting the tilting movement.