Folding Grain Cart Auger With Compound-Angle Joint Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Folding augers in grain carts lack optimal side and forward reach in operating positions and fail to minimize transport size effectively, often interfering with tractor cabs during conversion between positions.
Innovation Solution
A grain cart with a folding auger assembly featuring a compound angle joint that allows the upper auger portion to pivot relative to the lower auger portion, enabling an oblique pivot axis and universal joint coupling for enhanced reach and reduced transport size, with specific offset angles and hinge configurations to facilitate diagonal folding and improved clearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the auger is fully extended to maximize reach, then the discharge capability is improved, but the transport size becomes unwieldy and difficult to maneuver
Solution Approach 1:
The auger is divided into two separate assemblies: a lower auger assembly that remains fixed and an upper auger assembly that can be folded. This segmentation allows the auger to provide full reach when needed while enabling compact storage by folding the upper portion during transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The upper auger assembly is made dynamically movable through a folding mechanism with pivot joints, allowing it to transition between an extended operating position for maximum reach and a folded transport position for compact storage. This dynamic capability resolves the contradiction between fixed length requirements for operation and variable length needs for transport.
2Volume of moving object
If the upper auger assembly is folded to minimize transport size, then the transport convenience is improved, but the folding motion may not clear the tractor cab
Solution Approach 1:
The folding mechanism incorporates pivot joints with axes oriented in specific three-dimensional orientations. The first pivot joint has an axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of both auger assemblies, while the second pivot joint has an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lower auger assembly. This three-dimensional pivoting allows the upper assembly to fold in a path that clears the tractor cab while still achieving compact storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The folding mechanism uses asymmetric pivot joint configurations rather than simple hinged folding. The non-coplanar arrangement of pivot axes creates an asymmetric folding path that navigates around the tractor cab obstacle while achieving the compact folded position, resolving the clearance issue.
3Device complexity
If the auger assemblies are made co-linear for simple structure, then the manufacturing complexity is reduced, but the side and forward reach is not maximized
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot joints are oriented in three-dimensional space with axes that are not coplanar. The first pivot axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axes, while the second pivot axis is parallel to the lower auger's longitudinal axis. This three-dimensional configuration allows the upper auger assembly to extend beyond the lower assembly in both side and forward directions, maximizing reach while maintaining a relatively simple two-assembly structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The non-coplanar pivot joint configuration creates an asymmetric spatial arrangement that extends the auger's reach in multiple directions (side and forward) rather than simply extending in a straight line. This asymmetric geometry maximizes the effective discharge radius while keeping the structural complexity manageable.
Data Source
AI summary
A grain cart and foldable auger assembly having an upper auger assembly portion with a discharge portion, a lower auger assembly portion with an intake portion, and a compound angle joint that allows the upper auger assembly portion to be moved between operating and transport positions. When in an operating position, the upper auger portion and the lower auger portion are offset from each other by an operating offset angle. When in a transport position, the upper auger assembly portion is offset from the lower auger assembly portion by a transport offset angle such that the upper auger assembly portions folded across the front of the grain cart in a non-obstructive and non-protruding manner.