Extendable Axle Assembly for Harvester Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural harvesters experience instability on uneven ground due to their increasing size and longer headers, leading to tilting issues with the axle system, which affects their stability and operation.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a tilting extendable/retractable axle assembly that adjusts the distance between ground-engaging devices, using a connecting rod and solenoids to alter the wheelbase, allowing for enhanced stability on uneven terrain and reduced profile for road transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the harvester size and header length are increased, then the harvesting capacity is improved, but the stability on uneven ground deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The axle assembly is designed with extendable and retractable axles that can dynamically adjust their length. During field operations, the axles extend to increase the wheelbase and improve stability on uneven ground. During transport, the axles retract to reduce the overall profile. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the harvester to maintain stability during harvesting while reducing dimensions for safe road transport.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the axle length is extended to increase wheelbase, then the stability on sloping ground is improved, but the transport profile becomes larger
Solution Approach 1:
The axle assembly incorporates telescopic axles that can be extended or retracted based on operational requirements. When operating on sloping or uneven ground, the axles extend to provide a longer wheelbase and improved stability. When transitioning to road transport, the axles retract to minimize the vehicle's overall length and profile, ensuring compliance with transport regulations and improved maneuverability.
Solution Approach 2:
The axle assembly is divided into multiple telescopic segments that can independently extend or retract. This segmentation allows the axle to adjust its effective length without requiring the entire assembly to be permanently extended, enabling the vehicle to maintain a compact transport profile while achieving extended wheelbase when needed for field operations on challenging terrain.
Data Source
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AI summary
An agricultural harvester (10) includes a chassis (12), an axle assembly (72) carrying the chassis (12), a plurality of hub assemblies (76, 78) including a first hub assembly (79) and a second hub assembly (78), the hub assemblies being coupled to a corresponding end of the axle assembly (72), and a plurality of ground engaging devices (14) each being coupled to a corresponding one of the hub assemblies (76, 78). The ground engaging devices (14) support the axle assembly (72) and the chassis (12). The axle assembly (72) includes an extendable/retractable axle (80) for altering a distance between the ground engaging devices (14) that are coupled to the hub assemblies (76, 78), and a connecting rod (84) extending/retracting from a central portion (88) of the axle assembly (72), the connecting rod (84) being also coupled to a portion of the first hub assembly (76). The connecting rod (84) being generally vertically displaced from the extendable/retractable axle (80).