Articulated Pulling Arm with Hydraulic Angle Adjustment for Plows

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing agricultural machinery, such as plows, require manual and discrete adjustments of the articulated traction arm's position, necessitating the operator to exit the vehicle for each adjustment, which is inefficient and inconvenient.

Innovation Solution

An articulated traction arm device with a sector-shaped adjustment piece connected by a pivot joint and a length-adjustable rigid elongated member, such as a hydraulic cylinder, allows for continuous and remote control of the arm's pivoting position, enabling automatic attachment and detachment of secondary machines.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual and discrete adjustments of the articulated traction arm's position are used, then the machine structure remains simple, but the operator must exit the vehicle for each adjustment, reducing operational efficiency and safety

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoidadjustment mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment with a hydraulic actuation system. The hydraulic cylinder (element 12) provides powered adjustment of the articulated traction arm (element 4), eliminating the need for manual intervention and allowing the operator to remain in the vehicle. This substitution of mechanical manual adjustment with hydraulic actuation directly resolves the contradiction by improving productivity while accepting increased device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a hydraulic cylinder (element 12) to automate the adjustment of the articulated traction arm's position. The hydraulic system enables remote control from within the vehicle, allowing continuous adjustment during operation without requiring the operator to exit. This application of hydraulics directly addresses the productivity issue while introducing the necessary complexity for automated control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Loss of time

If discrete manual adjustments are made, then the adjustment mechanism remains simple, but the number of adjustments required increases time consumption and reduces productivity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime for adjustmentsVSAvoidadjustment system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hydraulic actuation system replaces manual adjustment mechanisms, enabling continuous and rapid repositioning of the articulated traction arm. This substitution eliminates the time-consuming nature of discrete manual adjustments while accepting the complexity of the hydraulic control system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the static, discrete adjustment system into a dynamic, continuous adjustment system. The hydraulic cylinder enables the traction arm to be repositioned continuously during operation, reducing the time lost to adjustments while introducing dynamic control complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If the articulated traction arm requires frequent manual adjustment, then the adjustment mechanism remains simple, but operator safety is reduced due to repeated vehicle exits

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperator safety and convenienceVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hydraulic control system replaces manual adjustment mechanisms, allowing the operator to adjust the articulated traction arm from within the vehicle. This substitution improves ease of operation and operator safety by eliminating repeated vehicle exits, while accepting the complexity of the hydraulic control system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Adaptability or versatility

If the traction arm is fixed in position, then the structure remains simple, but the ability to perform multiple soil working operations simultaneously is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesoil working operation flexibilityVSAvoidarm positioning system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the fixed traction arm into a dynamically adjustable system. The hydraulic cylinder enables the arm to be repositioned continuously to accommodate different soil working operations, improving adaptability and versatility while introducing the complexity of active positioning control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The articulated traction arm with hydraulic adjustment serves multiple functions by being repositionable for different soil working operations. This multi-functionality improves adaptability while requiring the complex hydraulic positioning system to enable the versatile operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables easy, continuous, and remote adjustment of the arm's position, reducing the need for manual intervention, enhancing operational efficiency and safety by minimizing collisions and stress on the machine.

Implementation Method 1

at least one elastically deformable element (8) arranged to connect the adjusting piece (7) to the bracket (3)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic actuation: Hydraulic Press

Data Source

PatentEP3868189B1Device with articulated pulling arm and agricultural machine provided with such an arm
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 KUHN-HUARD SAS
  • EP3868189B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3868189B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3868189B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

The present invention relates to an articulated traction arm device (1) for an agricultural machine (2), particularly a plow, comprising, on the one hand, a bracket (3) for mounting on the machine (2), on the other hand, an arm (4) connected by a pivot joint (5) to the bracket (3) at one of its two ends and having, at its other end, a hooking anchor (6), and finally, a piece (7) for spacing or adjusting the angular position of the arm (4) relative to the bracket (3), this piece being associated with at least one elastically deformable element and connected to said arm (4) and to said bracket (3). The device (1) is characterized in that the adjustment piece is connected to the bracket (3) by a second specific pivot joint (9), distinct from the first pivot joint (5) between the arm (4) and the bracket (3) mentioned above, and having an axis parallel to that of the latter.