Gang Mower Hitch Preventing Jackknife During Reverse Travel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gang mower designs fail to combine a wider cutting swath, flexibility to follow terrain, and maneuverability in a single unit, often resulting in jackknifing issues when traveling in reverse and requiring specialized components.
Innovation Solution
A hitch system that connects a propelled mower assembly with non-propelled mower assemblies, allowing independent movement of mower decks to follow terrain and preventing jackknifing by using commercially available off-the-shelf components, enabling forward and reverse travel without jackknifing, and allowing easy attachment and detachment for storage or independent use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If towed mowers are designed to travel in reverse, then versatility is improved, but jackknifing susceptibility increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hitch assembly includes a control arm with a pivot point positioned ahead of the towed mower's rear axle, creating a mechanical constraint that prevents the mower from jackknifing during reverse travel. This preliminary structural design counteracts the natural tendency of towed mowers to jackknife when reversing, allowing bidirectional travel without compromising stability.
2Manufacturing precision
If separate components are used to follow terrain independently, then cutting evenness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hitch assembly segments the connection between propelled and towed mowers through independent control arms and pivot points for each mower deck. This segmentation allows each mower to independently follow terrain contours while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure using standard mechanical components rather than complex integrated systems.
3Productivity
If mowers are positioned close together, then cutting swath is improved, but maneuverability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The control arms are designed with sufficient length and appropriate pivot point positioning to provide dynamic adjustment capability. This allows the hitch to accommodate the reduced spacing between mower decks while maintaining the ability to maneuver the entire assembly through turns and tight spaces, as the control arms can absorb the geometric constraints imposed by close positioning.
Data Source
AI summary
A hitch that connects one propelled mower assembly to one or more non-propelled mower assemblies, allowing the non-propelled mower to be pushed or pulled without jackknifing, while the individual mower decks are free to follow the terrain independently of each other. The hitch has two rigid connectors pivotally attached to and interconnecting the propelled mower and the non-propelled mower. Each mower deck can move freely relative to its lateral and longitudinal axes independent of each other.