Hay Rake Chassis Double Rockers for Uneven Ground Adaptation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Large-diameter rotary rake gyros in hay-making machines face challenges in adapting to uneven ground, leading to tine penetration and forage contamination due to limitations in wheel spacing and design, which results in broken tines and inefficient harvesting.

Innovation Solution

A rotary swather with a chassis featuring at least six feeler and support wheels mounted on three double rockers, allowing for smooth ground contact and adjustment, ensuring all wheels remain in contact during pitching and rolling, and enabling central height adjustment for optimal ground adaptation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If larger diameter gyroscopes are used to increase working width, then productivity is improved, but ground adaptation capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveworking widthVSAvoidground adaptation capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The chassis is divided into multiple independent wheel units (at least six feeler and support wheels) mounted on double rockers, allowing each wheel to independently adapt to ground contours while supporting the large-diameter gyroscope structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The double rocker mechanism provides dynamic adaptation by allowing the wheels to move relative to the chassis frame, enabling the large gyroscope to follow ground contours through mechanical motion rather than rigid contact

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If wheel diameter is increased to improve ground contact, then ground adaptation is improved, but installation space requirements worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveground contact capabilityVSAvoidinstallation space below rotary rake
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The double rocker mechanism introduces an additional degree of freedom by allowing wheels to pivot on rockers, achieving effective ground contact through angular motion rather than requiring large wheel diameters that would consume excessive installation space

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Stability of the object's composition

If chassis weight support is increased to improve stability, then slope stability is improved, but force transmission complexity worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveslope stabilityVSAvoidforce transmission path
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The double rocker mechanism extracts the weight support function from the central axis force transmission path, allowing the chassis weight to be supported directly by the wheels through the rocker mechanism, thereby simplifying the force transmission path and reducing complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 configuration minimizes tine penetration and forage contamination, ensuring smooth operation and improved slope stability, reducing the risk of broken tines and maintaining a clean harvest.

Implementation Method 1

Two double rockers essentially run in the direction of travel and the third double rocker, designed as a transverse yoke, runs transversely to the direction of travel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical motion:

Implementation Method 2

Gravity takes over the function of securing ground contact between the wheels of the chassis of a rotary rake

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP1946633B1Hay-making machine
Publication Date: 2010.05.26 CLAAS SAULGAU GMBH
  • EP1946633B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1946633B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1946633B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The haymaking machine has a rack spinner driven around a spinner axis directed upwards and assembled with rack tooth (1). The chassis (3) has three double swings (7,7',9) held at pendulum axis and each double swing has two roller feeler and carrying wheel or depth wheel (4). Two pendulum axis runs approximately transverse to the direction of motion (F) and a pendulum axis runs approximately in direction of motion.