Bracket Assembly Bushing Positioning for Machine Linkage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing bracket assemblies for coupling machine arms to implements require multiple sizes and types of bushings to accommodate different machine linkage assemblies, leading to increased costs, effort, and inventory needs due to the need for various configurations to ensure proper alignment and attachment.
Innovation Solution
A bracket assembly with a plate having engagement structures and a bushing with mating structures that allow multiple positional engagements, enabling the bushing to be inserted and positioned in various ways to accommodate different arm sizes, thus facilitating flexible attachment to various machine linkage assemblies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple sizes and types of bushings are used to accommodate different machine linkage assemblies, then proper alignment and attachment are ensured, but costs, effort, and inventory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket assembly is designed with a universal interface that can accommodate different machine linkage assemblies through multiple engagement positions. The bushing includes multiple engagement structures arranged along its length, allowing it to engage with different positions on the bracket plate, enabling a single bushing design to work with various arm sizes and configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The bushing is made adjustable along the axial direction, allowing it to be positioned at different locations relative to the bracket plate. This dynamic positioning capability enables the same bushing to adapt to different linkage assembly configurations, replacing the need for multiple fixed-size bushings.
2Reliability
If different bracket assemblies are required for different machines, then proper coupling is achieved, but device complexity and inventory needs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket assembly incorporates a universal design with multiple engagement structures on both the bracket plate and bushing. This allows a single bracket assembly design to couple with different arm configurations by simply repositioning the bushing along the plate, eliminating the need for multiple specialized bracket assemblies.
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement interface is segmented into multiple discrete engagement structures distributed along the axial direction. This segmentation allows selective engagement at different positions, providing adaptability to various configurations while maintaining a unified bracket assembly design.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple bushing sizes are stocked for different arm sizes, then proper alignment is achieved, but costs and overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single bushing design with multiple engagement positions provides the alignment capability previously requiring multiple specialized bushings. The bushing can be positioned at different locations along its length to achieve proper alignment with different arm sizes, eliminating the need to manufacture and stock multiple bushing variants.
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement position parameter of the bushing is made variable along the axial direction. By changing the position parameter rather than the bushing size parameter, the system achieves proper alignment for different configurations while using the same physical component, reducing manufacturing complexity and inventory costs.
Data Source
AI summary
A bracket assembly for coupling an implement to an arm of a machine includes a bracket with a plate and a bushing. The plate includes an opening having an inner wall including a number of engagement structures arranged along an axial direction of the opening. The engagement structures are longitudinally spaced apart from each other. The bushing is adapted to be inserted and positioned into the opening. The bushing includes a cylindrical portion with an outer surface, an end, and a plurality of mating structures arranged on the outer surface, along an axial direction of the cylindrical portion. The mating structures are longitudinally spaced apart from each other. An engagement between the engagement structures and the mating structures facilitate multiple positions of the end relative to the plate.