Deflectable Touchdown Wheel System for Agricultural Sprayer Boom
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wider sprayer booms increase steering input to the sprayer vehicle due to drag and shock load transmission through touchdown wheels, causing external steering inputs during ground contact, which can be detrimental to stable operation.
Innovation Solution
A deflectable touchdown wheel system that pivots transversely to absorb shock loads and minimize external steering inputs, featuring a pivot-mounted wheel support with a spring arrangement to restore the wheel to a neutral position after ground contact, allowing side-to-side angular deflection and reducing reactionary forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If sprayer boom width is increased to allow increased coverage in a single spraying pass, then productivity is improved, but steering input to the sprayer vehicle increases due to longer lever arms and drag from touchdown wheels
Solution Approach 1:
The touchdown wheel assembly is made dynamically deflectable through a pivot mounting system that allows the wheel to angle relative to the boom. This dynamic capability enables the wheel to absorb shock loads and drag forces through angular deflection rather than rigidly transmitting them to the boom, thereby reducing steering input while maintaining wide boom coverage capability
2Reliability
If touchdown wheels are made rigid to provide stable ground contact, then reliability is improved, but shock load transmission to the boom increases causing external steering inputs
Solution Approach 1:
A spring assembly is integrated into the touchdown wheel mounting to provide beforehand cushioning for shock loads. The spring is positioned to compress during ground contact, absorbing impact forces before they can be transmitted to the boom. This preliminary cushioning mechanism maintains reliable ground contact while reducing harmful shock load transmission and associated steering inputs
3Object-generated harmful factors
If touchdown wheels are suspension mounted to absorb shock, then shock load transmission is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring assembly is merged with the structural mounting bracket, integrating the shock-absorbing function into the existing support structure rather than adding a separate suspension system. The spring is positioned within the mounting bracket itself, combining structural support and shock absorption functions into a single integrated component, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining shock load reduction benefits
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
The system effectively dampens ground contact impact forces, minimizing external steering inputs to the sprayer vehicle and maintaining stability during operation by absorbing energy through angular deflection and spring compression.
Implementation Method 1
A spring arrangement is provided between the boom mounting bracket and the wheel support yoke. The spring arrangement has two longitudinally aligned springs held in a spring bracket that is connected to the boom mounting bracket. When the touchdown wheel contacts the ground, if the wheel is angled or not perpendicular with respect to the ground, then contact-induced shock loads are absorbed by angularly deflecting the wheel support yoke and further compressing a corresponding one of the springs.
Implementation Method 2
The system effectively dampens ground contact impact forces, minimizing external steering inputs to the sprayer vehicle and maintaining stability during operation by absorbing energy through angular deflection and spring compression.
Data Source
AI summary
A deflectable touchdown wheel system for a sprayer boom of an agricultural sprayer is provided that includes a touchdown wheel that deflects transversely when contacting the ground at an angle, damping ground contact impact forces at the sprayer boom, reducing reactionary forces such as external steering inputs at the sprayer vehicle.