Dual-Axis Hinge Assembly for Air Seeder Transport and Contour Following
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural implements, such as air seeders, face challenges in increasing machine width for enhanced productivity while maintaining the ability to fold for transport without row opener interference during planting operations.
Innovation Solution
A hinge assembly with two pivot axes is introduced, one for working positions to allow the outer wing to follow ground contours without interference and another for folding into a transport position, utilizing a pivot plate with a slot and float stop pin to prevent free fall during folding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the machine width is increased to enhance productivity, then the acreage in production increases, but the ability to fold for transport is compromised and row opener interference occurs during planting operations
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly introduces a vertical pivot axis component that allows the outer wing to fold vertically above the inner wing rather than only horizontally. This vertical dimension enables the wing to clear obstacles and fold into a compact position without interfering with row openers during planting operations while maintaining the increased machine width for higher productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge assembly divides the folding motion into two independent pivot axes: a first pivot axis for horizontal folding and a second pivot axis for vertical folding. This segmentation allows the outer wing to fold in stages - first horizontally then vertically - enabling both transport folding and row opener clearance without compromising productivity.
2Device complexity
If a single pivot axis is used for folding, then the structure is simple, but row opener contact occurs during planting operations
Solution Approach 1:
By adding a vertical pivot axis component, the hinge assembly creates a two-dimensional folding motion that allows the outer wing to move both horizontally and vertically. This additional dimension enables the wing to clear row openers during planting operations while maintaining structural simplicity through the use of standard hinge components arranged in a specific configuration.
3Ease of operation
If the outer wing is rigidly attached to prevent folding, then transport is simplified, but the ability to follow ground contours is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly provides dynamic folding capability through two pivot axes that enable the outer wing to rotate both horizontally and vertically. This dynamic design allows the wing to adapt to ground contours during planting operations while also being able to fold into a compact transport position, eliminating the need for rigid attachment.
Data Source
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AI summary
A hinge assembly (34, 134) with two pivot axes (26, 126, 28, 128) is provided for a folding frame. One pivot axis (28, 128), a working pivot axis, allows an outer wing frame section (24, 124) to rotate while in operation to follow the ground contours by rotating relative to an adjacent frame section (20, 120) without creating any interference between adjacent tools mounted to the frame sections (20, 120, 24, 124). The second pivot axis (26, 126) is a folding pivot axis above the frame and about which the outer wing frame section (24, 124) rotates to fold the outer wing frame section (24, 124) into the transport position. This hinge assembly (34, 134) when used on a five section implement frame allows the outer wing frame section (24, 124) to both follow the ground contour and to fold into an acceptable transport position.