Adjustable Carrier Frame Balancing for Self-Propelled Farm Machines

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Solution Overview

Problem

Agricultural machines with variable tools and weights experience instability, uneven weight distribution, reduced performance, and increased soil compaction due to changes in center of gravity, leading to suboptimal traction and stability, especially in tracked vehicles, and requiring complex recalibration of GPS guidance.

Innovation Solution

A self-propelled agricultural machine with a connecting link between the carrier frame and rolling assembly that allows displacement along the longitudinal axis, equipped with evaluation and control means to adjust the relative positioning of the carrier frame and rolling assembly, ensuring the center of gravity and central point are coincident or coplanar, optimizing stability and ground contact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the center of gravity is fixed relative to the rolling assembly, then the machine structure is simple, but the machine becomes unstable when tools of different weights are attached

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemachine stabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The carrier frame is made movable relative to the rolling assembly along the longitudinal axis, allowing dynamic adjustment of the center of gravity position. The connecting link enables the carrier frame to slide and reposition automatically or manually to compensate for weight changes in tools, maintaining machine stability without complex active control systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the weight of the tools themselves to drive the balancing mechanism. When tools are attached or their weight changes, the center of gravity shifts, which automatically triggers the connecting link to reposition the carrier frame until balance is restored, eliminating the need for external ballasting or complex control systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Stability of the object's composition

If additional ballasting is added to compensate for poor weight distribution, then machine stability is improved, but ground load and soil compaction increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight distributionVSAvoidsoil compaction

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the need for additional ballasting by utilizing the existing tools and their weight variations to achieve balance. The connecting link allows the carrier frame to reposition itself using the tool weights, eliminating harmful ballast materials that would otherwise be needed to compensate for poor weight distribution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the position parameter of the carrier frame along the longitudinal axis to maintain optimal weight distribution. By adjusting the longitudinal position of the carrier frame based on tool weight variations, the system achieves balance without adding mass, thereby avoiding increased soil compaction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If the center of gravity position changes with tool variations, then the machine can accommodate different tools, but GPS guidance recalibration becomes necessary

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetool compatibilityVSAvoidguidance system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates sensors to detect the weight and position of tools on the carrier frame. This feedback information is used by the control system to calculate the required carrier frame position adjustment, enabling automatic rebalancing and GPS recalibration without manual intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces complex mechanical recalibration procedures with an automated control system that uses electronic sensors and actuators. The control system processes sensor data about tool weights and automatically adjusts the carrier frame position and GPS guidance parameters, substituting mechanical adjustment procedures with electronic control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS20260062071A1Self-propelled agricultural machine whose balance can be controlled and adjusted

Publication Date: 2026.03.05 KUHN SA

AI summary

An agricultural machine, of which the assembly connection between the support frame and the running-gear allows a movement between the support frame and the running-gear along the longitudinal axis. The machine includes a device for determining and optionally adjusting, if necessary, automatically by an evaluation and control device or on command of an operator. The relative positioning between the support frame and the running-gear is set such the center of gravity of the support frame with its tool and a central point of the running-gear are mutually close, advantageously located in a same plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and preferably coincident.