Central Hydraulic Distributor in Agricultural Chassis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural machines face issues with hydraulic line damage and pressure differences due to long, pinched lines and varying lengths, leading to mechanical stress and reduced service life, especially with numerous moving components and a central hydraulic distributor's position.
Innovation Solution
A central, immovable undercarriage area with a base plate or frame part stabilizes the chassis, fixes hydraulic lines with numerous fixing elements, and routes them along a common path to minimize length variations and friction, connecting front and rear chassis areas with low torsion resistance to reduce movement and stress on hydraulic lines and the distributor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If hydraulic lines are routed to individually suspended wheels with a central hydraulic distributor, then each wheel can be controlled independently, but hydraulic lines become long and vary in length causing pressure differences and mechanical stress
Solution Approach 1:
The chassis is divided into a central stationary section and two movable end sections (front and rear). The central hydraulic distributor is positioned on the stationary central section, while hydraulic lines are routed through this stable area to reach the movable wheel suspension points. This segmentation allows independent wheel control while maintaining a stable reference point for hydraulic line routing.
Solution Approach 2:
The central stationary chassis section acts as an intermediary element between the central hydraulic distributor and the movable wheel suspension systems. By routing hydraulic lines through this intermediate stationary area rather than directly across the full chassis length, the patent reduces line length variations and mechanical stress on the hydraulic connections.
2Adaptability or versatility
If numerous moving chassis components like wheel suspension arms are present, then independent wheel suspension is achieved, but hydraulic lines can be pinched and damaged by these moving components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the hydraulic line routing from the movable chassis areas and relocates it to the stationary central chassis section. By taking the hydraulic lines out of the zones where wheel suspension arms move, the risk of pinching and damage from moving components is eliminated while preserving the independent suspension functionality.
3Power
If the central hydraulic distributor is positioned on the agricultural machine, then hydraulic supply to all cylinders is enabled, but hydraulic lines of varying lengths lead to pressure differences at the cylinders
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates equipotential conditions for hydraulic line routing by ensuring that lines from the central distributor to corresponding hydraulic cylinders on opposite sides of the chassis have equal lengths. The central stationary positioning of the distributor combined with symmetric routing through the central section ensures that pressure is delivered uniformly to all cylinders, eliminating pressure differences caused by varying line lengths.
Data Source
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AI summary
An agricultural machine comprising a frame which is supported on the ground by means of a chassis comprising wheels and is connected to the chassis via connecting components, wherein the chassis includes independent suspension of the wheels, and a hydraulic system with a central hydraulic distributor. In order to create a central hydraulic arrangement which allows for hydraulic lines of minimal and at least approximately equal length, the chassis is provided to have a central, immobile chassis section rigidly connected to the frame, and the central hydraulic distributor is arranged in this central, immobile chassis section.