Automatic Toe Angle Adjustment for Vehicle Track Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for adjusting the toe angle of vehicles do not facilitate changing the vehicle track with reduced force, particularly in scenarios where rapid or precise adjustments are needed, such as in agricultural applications like combine harvesters.

Innovation Solution

An automatic toe angle adjustment system that allows operators to select desired track settings, automatically changing the toe angle of the wheels to increase or decrease the vehicle's track by using actuators and sensors to extend or retract rear axles, assisted by the vehicle's movement, thereby reducing the force required for track changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual track adjustment is used, then the vehicle track can be changed, but high force is required making it difficult to operate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of track adjustmentVSAvoidforce required for track change

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the purely mechanical manual track adjustment system with an automated system that uses sensors to detect wheel position and electronic control to actuate the track adjustment mechanism. This substitution of manual mechanical operation with an automated sensor-control-actuator system eliminates the need for high manual force while maintaining precise track adjustment capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-service by automatically detecting the current wheel position through sensors, calculating the required track adjustment, and actuating the adjustment mechanism without operator intervention. The system serves itself by monitoring its own state and making corrections autonomously, reducing the physical effort required by the operator to near zero.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If automatic toe angle adjustment system is added to adjustable track vehicle, then track can be changed with reduced force, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of track adjustmentVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system performs multiple functions: it monitors wheel position via sensors, calculates the required track adjustment, controls the actuation of the track adjustment mechanism, and manages the toe angle adjustment. By making the control system universal and multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate dedicated systems for each function, thereby reducing overall device complexity while achieving automatic track adjustment with reduced force.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the toe angle adjustment system with the track adjustment system, allowing both functions to be controlled by a single integrated control unit. This combining of functions into one system rather than separate systems reduces the overall device complexity while maintaining the capability to adjust track with reduced force.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 efficient and precise adjustment of the vehicle's track with reduced operator effort, allowing for seamless transitions between different row spacings during harvesting, while minimizing mechanical stress on the vehicle.

Implementation Method 1

an actuator is provided which is configured to change the toe angle of the wheel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

The operator can then drive the vehicle forward or backward until the inward or outward for generated by the toe-in or toe-out pushes together or pulls apart the wheels

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 3

the inward or outward for generated by the toe-in or toe-out pushes together or pulls apart the wheels to thereby decrease or increase the track

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentUS8205892B2Method of automatically changing wheel toe angle

Publication Date: 2012.06.26 DEERE & CO

AI summary

A method for changing the track of a vehicle (100) having first and second wheels (108, 110) disposed on opposing sides of the vehicle (100) along a line generally perpendicular to the direction of travel of the vehicle, the first and second wheels (108, 110 are supported on first and second wheel supports (114, 116, 204) to permit the track of the first and second wheels (108, 110) to be adjusted, at least one actuator (218, 220) is coupled to at least one wheel of the first and second wheels (108, 110) and is configured to change the toe angle of said first and second wheels (108, 110), and an electronic control unit (402) is coupled to the actuator (218, 220) that is configured to command the actuator (218, 220) to change the toe angle, the method comprising the steps of changing the toe angle of the first and second wheels (108, 110); rolling the vehicle (100) on the first and second wheels (108, 110) over the ground to generate opposing lateral forces on the first and second wheels (108, 110); and applying the opposing lateral forces to the first and second wheel supports (114, 116, 204) to change the track of the first and second wheels (108, 110).