Common Front Attachment Interface for Fast Tractor Mounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Agricultural vehicle attachments such as weight ballast packages and front three-point hitches are heavy and unwieldy, requiring difficult and time-consuming installation processes, often involving high torque bolts located under the hood, and the increasing size of the front frame complicates manufacturing and increases costs.

Innovation Solution

A front attachment system with a chassis interface and pin retainer system that uses a common interface, allowing attachments to be mounted via protrusions and pins, eliminating the need for high-torque bolt installation and enabling easy attachment and detachment through a lateral surface, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional bolted attachments are used to secure weight ballast packages and front three-point hitches to the front frame, then the attachments can be securely fastened, but the attachment process becomes difficult and time-consuming requiring high torque and access to bolts under the hood

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment securityVSAvoidattachment process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment system is divided into modular components: a front frame with mounting brackets, attachment-specific brackets (weight ballast bracket, three-point hitch bracket), and quick-connect latches. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and enables tool-free attachment by simply connecting the brackets with latches rather than requiring multiple bolts to be accessed and tightened under the hood

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Mounting brackets serve as intermediary components that facilitate the connection between the front frame and various attachments. These brackets provide standardized mounting interfaces that simplify the attachment process, allowing different attachments to be secured to the front frame through a common bracket system rather than requiring unique bolt patterns for each attachment type

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the front frame is enlarged to accommodate various attachments and their securing mechanisms, then more attachment options are available, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment accommodationVSAvoidfront frame manufacturing

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting brackets are designed as universal components that can accommodate multiple types of attachments (weight ballast packages, three-point hitches, and other front-mounted equipment) through a standardized interface. This multi-functionality allows the front frame to support various attachments without requiring custom modifications or enlargement, as the same bracket design can be used across different attachment types

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of creating unique mounting structures for each attachment type, the system uses replicated standard mounting brackets that can be used across different attachment applications. This copying approach simplifies manufacturing by using the same bracket designs and fastening mechanisms repeatedly, rather than designing and manufacturing custom large-scale mounting structures for each attachment variant

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Strength

If heavy-duty fasteners and large bolts are used to secure attachments to the front frame, then the attachment security is sufficient for heavy loads, but the attachment process becomes more complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment fasteningVSAvoidattachment time

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The complex multi-bolt fastening system is extracted and replaced with a simplified latch mechanism. The latches provide sufficient holding strength for heavy attachments but can be engaged and disengaged quickly without requiring tools or high torque, eliminating the time-consuming process of accessing and tightening multiple large bolts under the hood while maintaining the necessary strength for heavy-duty applications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS12610876B2Front attachment system using a common interface for different attachments

Publication Date: 2026.04.28 CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC

AI summary

In certain embodiments, an attachment system for a work vehicle may include a chassis interface coupled to a chassis of the work vehicle. The chassis interface may include a recess extending in a longitudinal direction and a pin retainer having a pin hole extending in a lateral direction. The recess receives a protrusion of an attachment interface coupled to an attachment. The pin hole of the pin retainer receives a pin and the pin fastens the chassis interface and the attachment interface to one another.