Agricultural Harrow Link Assembly with Resilient Clamping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural harrow systems with integral links face challenges in maintenance and repair, as damaged components often require replacement of the entire link, leading to material property compromises and increased costs due to the need for thicker, heavier harrow discs and less suitable materials for other portions.
Innovation Solution
A link assembly with a resilient harrow member that is elastically deformable, clamped between components to retain fastening elements, providing increased static friction and allowing for easier assembly and disassembly, enabling individual component replacement and use of optimized materials for each part.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If integral links are used where the disc, hook portions, and loop portions are welded or cast together, then assembly and disassembly is simplified, but maintenance and repair become difficult as the entire link must be discarded when any component is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The link is divided into separate components (disc, hook portions, loop portions) that can be independently replaced. The clamping mechanism with resilient member and fastening element allows these segments to be assembled and disassembled easily while enabling selective replacement of damaged parts, thus resolving the contradiction between simplified assembly and ease of repair.
2Ease of manufacture
If integral links with uniform material properties are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but the harrow disc must be made thicker and heavier to compensate for the compromise in material properties
Solution Approach 1:
Different components of the link are made from materials optimized for their specific functions. The harrow disc uses high wear resistance and toughness materials, while the hook and loop portions use materials suitable for joining functions. This allows each component to have optimal material properties without requiring the entire link to be made from the strongest material, reducing overall weight while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through modular construction.
3Strength
If the harrow disc is made thicker to compensate for material property compromises in integral links, then strength and wear resistance are improved, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the entire link from high-strength, high-wear-resistance materials (which would be costly), the solution applies optimized materials only where needed - specifically in the harrow disc where wear and strength are critical. The hook and loop portions use more cost-effective materials suitable for their joining function, thereby reducing overall manufacturing costs while maintaining the required strength of the harrow disc.
4Device complexity
If integral links are used, then the number of components is reduced, but the material properties must be compromised to satisfy all functional requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The link is segmented into separate components (disc, hook portions, loop portions) that can have different material properties optimized for their specific functions. This segmentation allows each component to be made from materials with appropriate properties for its function, improving overall reliability without significantly increasing complexity, as the components are designed to work together in a modular assembly.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution allows for the efficient maintenance and repair of harrow systems by enabling the replacement of damaged components without discarding the entire link, optimizing material properties for each part, and reducing manufacturing costs through the use of suitable techniques for each component.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient harrow member, wherein the resilient harrow member is elastically deformable; wherein, when the link is assembled: the resilient harrow member is clamped between the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion under an applied pressure, elastically deforming to enable engagement of the at least one fastening element, whereby upon release of the applied pressure, the resultant elastic stress in the harrow member urges the first and second components to bear against the fastening element
Implementation Method 2
providing increased static friction and allowing for easier assembly and disassembly
Data Source
AI summary
A link assembly (3) for an agricultural ground engaging chain (1) including a plurality of said link assemblies (3), the link assembly including: a first component (7) having a first clamping portion (21) and a first link portion (13) for linking with a link portion of an adjacent link assembly; a second component (9) having a second clamping portion (27) and a second link portion (15) for linking with a link portion of an adjacent link assembly; a resilient harrow member (5), wherein the resilient harrow member (5) is elastically deformable; and at least one fastening element (11). When the link assembly (3) is assembled, the resilient harrow member (5) is clamped between the first clamping portion (21) and the second clamping portion (27) under an applied pressure, elastically deforming to enable engagement of the at least one fastening element, whereby upon release of the applied pressure, the resultant elastic stress in the harrow member (5) urges the first (7) and second (9) components to bear against the fastening element (11) to retain the components of the link assembly (3) together.