Deployable Third Axle for Agricultural Harvester Road Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heavy harvesters face challenges in consistently and reliably utilizing a deployable third axle for maximum allowable axle weight requirements during road transport, necessitating a solution to maintain specified force on the driving surface while accommodating surface irregularities.
Innovation Solution
A pivotally coupled and deployable axle system with a hydraulic actuator, controlled by a road mode switch and controller, ensures a substantially constant down force on the ground surface by sequencing the deployment of the axle assembly, locking fluid pressure in an accumulator, and adjusting the feeder housing height to maintain optimal axle load distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a deployable third axle is used to meet axle weight requirements, then the harvester can adhere to European legislation, but the system fails to consistently and reliably maintain specified force on the driving surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system using a load cell to sense the actual force applied by the axle to the ground and a controller to compare this with the desired force. The controller adjusts the hydraulic cylinder extension accordingly to maintain the specified down force, resolving the unreliability of force application while meeting weight requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the harvester's own hydraulic system and control mechanisms to automatically deploy and position the axle without external intervention. The load cell and controller work together to self-regulate the axle position and force application, ensuring reliable and consistent performance
2Ease of operation
If the hydraulic cylinder extends completely to lower the axle, then the feeder housing reaches the correct height, but ground surface irregularities cause variations in down force
Solution Approach 1:
The load cell continuously monitors the down force on the axle and provides feedback to the controller. When ground irregularities cause force variations, the controller adjusts the hydraulic cylinder extension in real-time to compensate, maintaining constant down force while keeping the feeder housing at the correct height
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static, fixed-position axle design to a dynamic, actively controlled system. The hydraulic cylinder and control system continuously adjust the axle position in response to ground conditions, enabling the system to adapt to irregularities while maintaining proper feeder housing positioning and constant down force
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 solution guarantees a consistent down force on the axle assembly, enhancing safety and reliability during road transport by ensuring proper deployment of the axle assembly, regardless of ground surface irregularities, and adhering to European axle weight regulations.
Implementation Method 1
A hydraulic actuator is coupled with the axle assembly for pivotally moving the axle assembly in upward and downward directions from the feeder housing
Implementation Method 2
the hydraulic control valve applies a predetermined pressure to the accumulator until a steady pressure is obtained. Then a valve is closed to lock this fluid into the accumulator
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
An agricultural harvester (10) includes a chassis (12) and a feeder housing (20) pivotally mounted to the chassis (12). The agricultural harvester (10) is characterized in that an axle assembly (80) is pivotally mounted to the feeder housing (20). A hydraulic actuator (98) is coupled with the axle assembly (80) for pivotally moving the axle assembly (80) in upward and downward directions from the feeder housing (20). A road mode switch (108) provides a first output signal indicative of a field mode and a second output signal indicative of a road mode. A controller (70) is coupled with the road mode switch (108) and the hydraulic actuator (98). The controller (70) receives the second output signal from the road mode switch (108) and controls the hydraulic actuator (98), whereby the hydraulic actuator (98) provides a substantially constant down force between the axle assembly (80) and a ground surface (118).