Boxed Plate Frame with Varying Thickness for Sprayer Chassis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current high-clearance sprayer frames are heavy, complex, and require extensive time for fabrication due to their ladder-style configuration, necessitating a more efficient and lighter chassis frame design that provides additional strength only where needed.
Innovation Solution
A boxed plate construction frame with varying thicknesses at different sections, featuring thicker materials where extra strength is required, and a transition joint system using angular edges and pockets to connect sections, reducing weight and fabrication time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If ladder-style tube frame configuration is used to provide sufficient strength and mounting locations, then the frame can support sprayer components and accessories, but the frame becomes relatively heavy and requires extensive fabrication time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the plate thickness at different sections of the frame. Thicker plates (e.g., 0.25 inch) are used at sections requiring higher strength such as mounting locations for booms and accessories, while thinner plates (e.g., 0.1875 inch) are used in less critical areas. This localized differentiation provides necessary strength where needed while reducing overall weight compared to a uniformly thick ladder-style frame.
2Adaptability or versatility
If ladder-style tube frame with numerous large sections is used to support accessories, then sufficient mounting locations are provided, but the device complexity and fabrication time increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the frame into multiple sections with different plate thicknesses tailored to specific functional requirements. Each section can be independently manufactured and then assembled using transition joints, allowing for modular construction. This segmentation reduces overall complexity compared to a single-piece ladder-style frame while maintaining sufficient mounting locations through strategic placement of thicker plates at accessory mounting areas.
3Strength
If ladder-style tube frame configuration is used to provide sufficient strength, then structural integrity is maintained, but fabrication time increases due to numerous individual components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple frame sections into a unified structure through transition joints that connect sections with different plate thicknesses. These transition joints integrate the angular edges of adjacent sections, creating a continuous structural system that maintains structural integrity. By combining sections rather than using numerous separate components, the fabrication time is reduced while preserving the necessary strength through the integrated design.
Data Source
AI summary
A chassis frame including a first section and a second section. The first section includes a top plate having a first thickness, a bottom plate, and a plurality of side plates extending from the top plate to the bottom plate. The second section includes a top plate having a second thickness, a bottom plate, and a plurality of side plates extending from the top plate to the bottom plate. The first section and the second section are joined at least one transition joint. Each transition joint includes a protrusion configured to engage a pocket. Each pocket is defined by angular edges of the top and bottom plates of the first section. Each protrusion defined by angular edges of the top and bottom plates of the second section.