Central Ball Joint Coupling for Tractive Force Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural implements hitched to towing vehicles experience unequal load distribution between front and rear axles, leading to inefficient tractive force transmission, especially on difficult ground conditions, requiring additional weights and increased fuel consumption, and are hindered by support wheels that increase rolling friction.
Innovation Solution
A device with a central ball joint coupling and variable hydraulic actuation allows for optimized force transmission to all drive wheels, eliminating the need for front axle weights and support wheels, enabling adjustable weight distribution and reduced material costs by allowing tools to penetrate soil with their own weight, while enhancing maneuverability and attachment changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If heavy trailer implements are hitched to the rear of the towing vehicle, then the implement can be connected in a simple manner via three-point hitch, but the load distribution on front and rear axles becomes unequal, causing tractive force loss on difficult ground
Solution Approach 1:
The hitch point is relocated from the rear horizontal dimension to the central vertical dimension (over the vehicle center). This spatial repositioning allows the implement weight to be distributed centrally, maintaining equal load on front and rear axles while preserving the simplicity of three-point hitch connection.
2Reliability
If additional weights are attached to the front axle to balance load distribution, then tractive power transmission is improved, but vehicle weight increases leading to higher fuel consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The additional front axle weights are completely removed. Instead, the implement itself is repositioned centrally so that its weight naturally balances the load distribution, eliminating the need for extra weights and the associated fuel consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The implement's own weight is utilized to balance the load distribution. By positioning the hitch point centrally, the implement automatically provides the necessary weight distribution without requiring additional balancing weights or increasing vehicle mass.
3Ease of operation
If support wheels are added to guide the implement on the ground, then implement guidance is improved, but rolling friction forces increase requiring higher tractive effort
Solution Approach 1:
The support wheels are completely removed from the implement design. Instead of using wheels to guide the implement, the centralized hitch connection allows the implement to be guided directly by the towing vehicle, eliminating the rolling friction that would otherwise require additional tractive effort.
4Reliability
If the hitch point is positioned centrally on the work vehicle, then balanced load distribution is achieved, but the hitch structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized hitch structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides balanced load distribution, enables simple three-point hitch connection, allows easy attachment/detachment of implements, and facilitates track-offset driving. This multi-functionality justifies the moderate increase in structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The hitch structure incorporates dynamic elements such as hydraulic cylinders for height adjustment and variable actuating forces, allowing the system to adapt to different implement weights and ground conditions while maintaining balanced load distribution.
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
This solution ensures balanced tractive force distribution to all wheels, reduces material costs, and improves soil tillage quality by minimizing vibration and maintaining consistent tool depth, thereby increasing tractive efficiency and reducing fuel consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a variable actuating force of the hydraulic cylinder (17)
Implementation Method 2
the forces generated during tillage are introduced centrally into the working vehicle
Implementation Method 3
the support wheels arranged to guide the implement on the ground, which absorb the entire weight of the implement and the vertical forces of the implement, also increase the tractive effort required by the implement to overcome the high rolling friction forces
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The method involves regulating parameter of the driving power (Z) of the utility vehicle (1) depending on the vertical forces (Fw) operating at the tools (16) of ground preparation tool (3). The utility vehicle and the ground preparation tool are connected together by automatic coupling (2) and the working depth of the tools of the ground preparation tool, are adjustable in the field soil. An independent claim is also included for the regulation of the driving power of an all-wheel drive utility vehicle.