Agricultural Gearbox Shaft Pivoting for Safe Ratio Changes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural gearbox devices require manual adjustment of gears, which can be hazardous due to the need to access working elements while changing transmission ratios, and they often rely on adhesion coupling, leading to slippage and increased maintenance costs.
Innovation Solution
A gearbox device with pivoting means that allows manual adjustment of primary, secondary, and intermediate shafts around their axes of rotation, enabling gear coupling without manual rotation of tools, and incorporating a movement transmission member that can pivot between operational positions, reducing the risk of injury and simplifying gear changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the gearbox is positioned close to the working elements to enable manual gear adjustment, then the ease of operation is improved, but the safety risk increases due to exposure to sharp or pointed working elements
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission system is divided into two separate input shafts, allowing the gearbox to be positioned away from the working elements while maintaining functional access through the telescopic shaft connection
Solution Approach 2:
A telescopic transmission shaft acts as an intermediary element, transmitting power from the tractor to the gearbox input shaft without requiring the gearbox to be physically located near the working elements
2Ease of operation
If a grip coupling is used to change transmission ratio, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to slippage and maintenance requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesion-based grip coupling is replaced with a mechanical toothed engagement system where gear teeth from the movable shaft directly mesh with teeth on the fixed shaft, eliminating slippage through positive mechanical engagement
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static grip coupling to a dynamic toothed engagement where the movable shaft can shift positions to engage different gear ratios, maintaining both reliability and operational flexibility
3Device complexity
If the gearbox requires manual rotation of working elements to adjust gear teeth, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation worsens due to hazardous manual handling
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the rotational movement of the telescopic shaft itself to automatically bring the gear teeth into alignment, eliminating the need for separate manual rotation of working elements while maintaining structural simplicity
Data Source
Figure 1~2A
Figure 2B~2C
Figure 3A
AI summary
The invention relates to a gearbox device (1) for an agricultural machine, comprising a primary shaft (2), a secondary shaft (3), at least one intermediate shaft (4), and a power transmission member (5) movable between at least two operating positions. In these positions, the transmission member establishes kinematic chains by meshing between the primary shaft (2) and the secondary shaft (3) with different transmission ratios, at least one of the kinematic chains incorporating the intermediate shaft (4). The power transmission member (5) passes through at least one neutral position during its movement between the aforementioned at least two operating positions. The device is characterized in that it comprises a means (6) for pivoting, by manual actuation, one of the primary (2), secondary (3), and intermediate (4) shafts around its axis of rotation when the power transmission member (5) is in the neutral position.