Electric Hitch Lift Assist Using Spring Energy Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric actuators in robotic farm vehicles lack the load capacity and ability to operate under heavy pressures, which is critical for farming operations, as they cannot replace hydraulic systems effectively in hitch assemblies.
Innovation Solution
A hitch assembly with a pair of link arms and a center link, combined with a spring and an electric actuator that compresses the spring using gravity on the downward stroke, allowing the link arms to be raised by both the electric actuator and the spring's stored energy, enhancing lifting power without the weight and expense of hydraulic systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If an electric actuator is used to power the hitch assembly, then the weight and expense of hydraulic systems are eliminated, but the load capacity and ability to work under heavy pressures are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines an electric actuator with a spring mechanism to create a hybrid lifting system. The electric actuator and spring work together to provide both the weight advantage of electric systems and the load capacity advantage of mechanical spring assistance, resolving the contradiction between eliminating hydraulic systems and maintaining sufficient lifting power.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring is pre-compressed during the downward stroke of the actuator, storing energy that is then released during the upward lifting stroke. This preliminary action of compressing the spring allows the system to accumulate energy before it is needed for heavy lifting, enabling the electric actuator to be smaller while still achieving high load capacity.
2Force
If a hydraulic system is used to drive actuators, then load capacity and ability to work under heavy pressures are improved, but the weight and expense of the system increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges an electric actuator with a spring mechanism to create a hybrid system that achieves hydraulic-level load capacity without the weight and complexity of a full hydraulic system. The combination allows the electric actuator to be much smaller while still providing sufficient lifting power for heavy farm implements.
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 enables the hitch assembly to lift heavy loads efficiently, utilizing the stored energy of the spring to double the lifting power, making the electric actuator half the size required, thus addressing the load capacity and pressure limitations of traditional electric actuators.
Implementation Method 1
A spring is combined between the chassis and the pair of links arms. An electric actuator is combined between the chassis and the pair of links arms for compressing the spring with the assistance of gravity on a downward stroke of the electric actuator while lowering the pair of link arms, and wherein the pair of link arms are raised by an outward stroke of both the electric actuator and the spring.
Implementation Method 2
compressing the spring with the assistance of gravity on a downward stroke of the electric actuator
Data Source
AI summary
A spring is combined between the chassis and the pair of links arms. An electric actuator is combined between the chassis and the pair of links arms for compressing the spring with the assistance of gravity on a downward stroke of the electric actuator while lowering the pair of link arms, and wherein the pair of link arms are raised by an outward stroke of both the electric actuator and the spring.