Triple-Fold Cultivator Hinge with Elevated Pivot Axis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural tillage implements with increasing widths face challenges in converting between operating and transport modes efficiently, often requiring significant time and effort from operators, and may not fit within regulatory dimensions for road transport without special permits or escort vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A folding field cultivator with an elevated hinge system that allows for a triple-fold configuration, enabling the implement to be compactly folded into a transport position, using a center frame and wing sections with specific hinge systems to accommodate tillage elements and fit within regulatory dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the tillage implement is made wider to increase working capacity, then the productivity is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in converting between operating and transport modes
Solution Approach 1:
The tillage implement is divided into multiple foldable sections (inner wing section, middle wing section, outer wing section) that can be independently folded and stacked. This segmentation allows the wide implement to be broken down into manageable sections that can be easily reconfigured from operating to transport mode and vice versa, resolving the contradiction between wide working capacity and ease of mode conversion.
2Productivity
If the tillage implement is made wider to increase working capacity, then the productivity is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional folding mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The folding sections are designed to nest within each other when folded, with the outer wing section containing the middle wing section, which in turn contains the inner wing section. This nesting arrangement allows multiple sections to be folded into a compact configuration using a relatively simple hinge system, reducing the overall complexity compared to alternative folding mechanisms while maintaining wide operating capacity.
3Productivity
If the tillage implement is made wider to increase working capacity, then the productivity is improved, but the ease of operation worsens due to time consumption in mode conversion
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge systems are designed to enable dynamic movement of the folding sections, allowing quick transition between operating and transport modes. The elevated pivot axes and articulated hinge design facilitate smooth, controlled folding and unfolding motions that can be executed rapidly, significantly reducing the time required for mode conversion while maintaining the ability to achieve wide operating widths.
Data Source
AI summary
A folding agricultural implement including a center frame section, a plurality of wing sections and first and second hinge systems. The plurality of wing sections are positioned on opposite lateral sides of the center frame section, and include an inner wing section, a middle wing section and an outer wing section, each outer wing section being configured to fold laterally inward and over a respective middle wing section. Each middle wing section is configured to fold laterally inward and over a respective inner wing section. The first hinge system is coupled to both the outer wing section and the middle wing section. The first hinge system having a first pivot axis. The second hinge system is coupled to the middle wing section and the inner wing section, and has a second pivot axis that is vertically higher than the first pivot axis when the implement is in an unfolded state.