Agricultural Harvester Support Wheel Axle Load Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Agricultural harvesting machines with large attachments face challenges during road transport, as the shift in weight distribution during braking leads to increased braking distances and potential rear lift-off, exceeding permissible braking limits due to inadequate axle load on the front braked drive axle.

Innovation Solution

A control device regulates the contact pressure of support wheels using lifting cylinders, shifting weight to the braked drive axle during braking, ensuring improved traction and adherence to safe braking distances, even with heavy attachments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the front attachment is supported on the transport vehicle during road transport, then the axle load distribution is improved, but the braking distance increases and permissible braking limits are exceeded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaxle load distributionVSAvoidbraking distance
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The support wheel's contact pressure with the ground is made dynamically adjustable through a control device that regulates hydraulic pressure in lifting cylinders. This allows the axle load distribution to be changed in real-time based on operational requirements, specifically increasing front axle load during braking to reduce braking distance while maintaining reduced load during transport

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The physical parameter of support wheel contact pressure is changed from a fixed state to a variable state. The control device modifies this parameter by regulating hydraulic pressure, enabling the system to adapt the axle load distribution between different operational modes (transport vs. braking) to optimize both stability and braking performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If the support wheel absorbs a partial load of the mounted front attachment, then axle load standards are met, but sufficient axle load on the braked drive axle is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaxle load distributionVSAvoidaxle load on braked drive axle
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The support wheel's load-bearing capacity is made dynamic rather than static. The control device enables the support wheel to transfer its supported load to the drive axle during braking by increasing hydraulic pressure in the lifting cylinders, ensuring sufficient axle load on the braked drive axle when needed while maintaining axle load standard compliance during transport

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If large attachments are used to increase harvesting performance, then productivity is improved, but weight distribution during braking causes rear lift-off and exceeds braking limits

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveharvesting performanceVSAvoidbraking safety
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the weight distribution by controlling the support wheel's contact pressure through hydraulic pressure regulation. During braking, the control device increases pressure in the lifting cylinders to transfer load from the support wheel to the drive axle, preventing rear lift-off and ensuring braking safety while allowing large attachments to be used for increased productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

The solution enables safe braking without exceeding maximum permissible braking distances by dynamically adjusting axle load distribution and traction, enhancing the braking effectiveness of the harvesting machine.

Implementation Method 1

the contact pressure of the at least one support wheel being regulated by the pressurization and the pressure relief of the at least one lifting cylinder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

with a braking device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP2183950B2Agricultural harvester
Publication Date: 2017.01.25 CLAAS SELBSTFAHRENDE ERNTEMASCHINEN GMBH
  • EP2183950B2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2183950B2 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The self-propelled agricultural harvester (1) has a vertically movable mounting device for adapting an agricultural attachment device (3). The attachment device is supported in transport position by a supporting wheel (16) standing in contact with a base. A braking device is provided for braking the wheels of the harvester. A control device (25) is provided which regulates the support pressure of the supporting wheel on the base during operation of the braking device. The control device stands in operative connection with a lifting cylinder (28) arranged at the mounting device.