Coupling Unit Segmentation for Agricultural Tractor Material Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional clutch units for agricultural tractor vehicles have high production costs due to excessive material usage and are difficult to attach efficiently to towing vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A cost-effective clutch unit design comprising two sub-units assembled in the transverse direction, with hollow bearing pin sections and forged parts, allowing for optimized material usage and reduced wear, enabling direct contact between sub-units and minimizing material in high-stress areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional clutch units are manufactured as solid cast parts, then structural strength is ensured, but production costs and material consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The clutch unit is divided into two separate coupling sub-units (first and second sub-units) that can be assembled together. This segmentation allows each sub-unit to be optimized independently, with hollow bearing pin sections that reduce material consumption while maintaining structural integrity through the assembly configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing pin sections are designed as hollow structures rather than solid, applying local quality changes where material is removed from non-critical areas. This reduces overall material consumption while maintaining strength in load-bearing regions through optimized wall thickness and geometric design
2Quantity of substance
If clutch units are designed with complex internal cavities, then material savings are achieved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the clutch unit into two assembleable sub-units, complex internal cavities can be formed more easily in each individual sub-unit than in a single monolithic piece. The hollow bearing pin sections and internal cavities are created within each sub-unit separately, simplifying the manufacturing process while achieving material savings
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow bearing pin sections are integrated within the structure of each coupling sub-unit, creating nested cavities that reduce material consumption. The bearing pin hollow sections are positioned within the sub-unit structure, allowing material removal without compromising external dimensions or assembly functionality
3Quantity of substance
If clutch units are assembled from multiple parts, then material consumption is reduced, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clutch unit is segmented into exactly two coupling sub-units that assemble together, reducing material consumption through hollow bearing pin sections. The segmentation into two parts rather than more keeps assembly complexity manageable while still achieving the material savings benefits of modular construction
Solution Approach 2:
Each coupling sub-unit combines multiple functional elements (jaw section, housing section, bearing pin section) into integrated assemblies that reduce the total number of separate components. This merging within each sub-unit simplifies the overall assembly process while maintaining material efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a coupling unit (10), in particular for a bolt coupling, preferably automatically actuated, especially for attachment to an agricultural tractor, comprising a jaw section (12) and a bearing pin section (16). According to the invention, the coupling unit (10) is assembled from at least two coupling sub-units (10A, 10B), each of which comprises a part (12A or 12B) of the jaw section (12) and a part (16A or 16B) of the bearing pin section (16), wherein the parts (12A, 14A, 16A or 12B, 14B, 16B) associated with a coupling sub-unit (10A or 10B) are formed integrally with one another.