Flotation Drive Assembly Gearbox Mounting for Irrigation Traction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Mechanized irrigation systems face issues with gearbox failures due to overhung loads from wide wheel/tire assemblies, leading to traction and rutting problems, especially in fields like potato and sugar beet fields, as current gearboxes cannot withstand the large forces generated.
Innovation Solution
A flotation drive assembly design where motor-driven gearboxes are mounted outside the drive tower structure, with wheel/tire assemblies supported by separate frames, allowing wide flotation combinations without gearbox weight support, and transferring reaction forces through a sleeve bearing and drive shaft assembly to minimize wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If wide wheel/tire assemblies are used to improve traction and reduce rutting, then field traction is improved, but gearbox failures occur due to overhung loads
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the weight support function from the gearbox by introducing a separate support frame structure. The wheel/tire assembly is mounted to the support frame, which is secured to the drive tower, while the gearbox is mounted to the support frame in a manner that prevents it from supporting the wheel/tire assembly weight. This separation allows wide wheel/tire combinations to improve traction without overloading the gearbox.
2Device complexity
If wheel/tire assemblies are mounted directly to the gearbox, then the structure is simpler, but the gearbox experiences significant overhung loads leading to failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the mounting structure into distinct functional components: a support frame for structural support and weight bearing, and a gearbox for power transmission only. The support frame is secured to the drive tower and carries the wheel/tire assembly, while the gearbox is mounted to the support frame in a cantilevered manner that eliminates weight support responsibilities. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function without compromise.
3Ease of manufacture
If the gearbox supports the weight of the wheel/tire assembly, then the mounting structure is simpler, but the gearbox experiences excessive forces resulting in output shaft, flange, bearing and mounting failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a support frame as an intermediary structure between the drive tower and the wheel/tire assembly. This support frame assumes the weight support function, allowing the gearbox to focus solely on power transmission. The support frame is secured to the drive tower with bolts, and the gearbox is mounted to the support frame in a manner that prevents weight support, thereby eliminating excessive forces on gearbox components like output shafts, flanges, bearings, and mountings.
Data Source
AI summary
A flotation drive assembly for mechanized irrigation systems such as a corner pivot irrigation machine, a center pivot irrigation machine or a linear move irrigation machine wherein the flotation drive assembly improves upon the field traction of the mechanized agricultural irrigational systems and which improves the resistance to wheel track rutting that may occur during the normal operation of the systems. The flotation drive assembly of this invention is designed so that the gearbox which drives the wheel/tire assemblies at the opposite ends of the main frame of the drive unit or tower is mounted so as not to support the weight of the tower or the water contained therein.