Bale Wagon Loading Assembly Center of Gravity Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bale wagons experience reduced traction due to shifting center of gravity when rotating clamp assemblies are used to collect and deliver bales, leading to decreased contact force between wheels and the ground.
Innovation Solution
A loading assembly with a lift actuator and rotation actuator, controlled by a processor, rotates the clamp assembly about a local lateral axis and a vertical axis to maintain the center of gravity, allowing for stable bale delivery without significant traction loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the clamp assembly is rotated about an angled rotation axis to deliver bales, then the bale can be delivered to the first table, but the center of gravity of the bale wagon shifts substantially, reducing the contact force between wheels and the surface
Solution Approach 1:
The rotation of the clamp assembly is divided into two separate sequential rotations: first about a lateral axis (90 degrees) to position the bale vertically, then about a vertical axis to orient the bale horizontally on the table. This segmentation of the rotation movement prevents the center of gravity shift that would occur with a single angled rotation axis, thereby maintaining wheel contact force while still achieving bale delivery.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the clamp assembly is rotated about an angled rotation axis, then the bale orientation changes from parallel to perpendicular relative to the direction of travel, but the traction of the bale wagon is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The orientation change of the bale is achieved through two segmented rotations: first rotating the clamp assembly 90 degrees about a lateral axis to change the bale from horizontal to vertical orientation, then rotating about a vertical axis to position the bale horizontally perpendicular to the direction of travel. This segmented approach achieves the desired bale orientation adaptability while maintaining vehicle stability and traction by avoiding center of gravity shifts.
3Device complexity
If a single rotation axis is used for the clamp assembly, then the structure is simpler, but the center of gravity shifts substantially during rotation
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single angled rotation axis, the invention employs two separate rotation axes: a lateral axis for the first 90-degree rotation and a vertical axis for the second rotation. This segmentation of the rotation mechanism, while slightly increasing structural complexity, successfully maintains center of gravity stability during operation by preventing the substantial shifts that would occur with a single angled axis rotation.
Data Source
AI summary
A loading assembly of a bale wagon includes a lift actuator configured to drive a clamp assembly to rotate about a local lateral axis and a rotation actuator configured to drive the clamp assembly to rotate about a vertical axis. The loading assembly also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the lift actuator and to the rotation actuator, in which the controller includes a memory and a processor. The controller is configured to selectively control the lift actuator to rotate the clamp assembly about the local lateral axis between a collection position and a longitudinal delivery position, and control the lift actuator and the rotation actuator to rotate the clamp assembly about the local lateral axis and about the vertical axis between the collection position and a lateral delivery position.