Foldable Hay Rake Pivot Arm and Dampener Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foldable hay rakes are cumbersome, prone to damage, and inefficient in covering wide swaths of hay, with issues such as bent lift tubes, inadequate raking of fine hay, and leaving unraked areas that lead to reduced yields and operational difficulties on uneven terrain.
Innovation Solution
A foldable hay rake design featuring pivotally secured rake arms with a center rake arm structure, improved rake wheels with closer tooth spacing, a center kicker wheel assembly, and an axle dampener to stabilize the castor wheel, allowing for efficient raking and turning of hay while minimizing damage and improving visibility during operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If hydraulic cylinder pushes from rearward end of lift tube to raise raking wheels, then raking wheels are lifted from ground surface, but lift tube is bent or damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the direction of force application by having the hydraulic cylinder pull from the forward end of the lift tube rather than push from the rearward end. This reversal prevents the bending and damage that occurs when pushing from the rear, as the pulling force is applied in a direction that does not create damaging moments on the lift tube structure.
2Area of stationary object
If larger diameter rake wheels exceeding 60 inches are used, then coverage area is increased, but tooth spacing exceeds four inches causing poor fine hay raking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the rake wheel structure by providing multiple rake wheels along each rake arm rather than using a single large wheel. This segmentation allows each individual wheel to have closely spaced teeth (less than four inches apart) while the overall system maintains wide coverage through the distributed arrangement of multiple wheels along the extended rake arms.
3Ease of operation
If center path is left unraked during turning, then turning maneuver is enabled, but hay in center path remains unraked leading to yield loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of the main rake arms and the center kicker wheel assembly into a unified raking system. The center kicker wheel assembly is integrated with the rake arms and works in conjunction with them to rake the center path area that would otherwise be left unraked during turning maneuvers, ensuring complete field coverage.
4Ease of operation
If castor wheel is used for support, then mobility is improved, but wobbling occurs reducing stability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies damping elements to the castor wheel assembly beforehand to counteract wobbling before it affects machine stability. The damping elements are pre-installed on the castor wheel to absorb and dissipate vibrations and wobbling motions, providing stable support while maintaining the mobility benefits of the castor wheel design.
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 design enhances the efficiency and durability of hay raking, ensuring better coverage, reducing yield loss, and facilitating easier operation on uneven terrain with improved visibility and reduced maintenance needs.
Implementation Method 1
an axle dampener operationally associated with the castor wheel to dampen wobbling of the castor wheel
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable hay rake has two rake arms comprised of first and second rake arm structures with rake wheels thereon pivotally secured to a base frame to pivot in a vertical plane. A center rake arm structure is pivotally associated with the base frame with a center rake arm frame located adjacent a rearward end of the base frame between the first and second rake arm structures. At least one of the hay rake wheels has a plurality of teeth extending therefrom with a tooth spacing between adjacent teeth of less than five inches and an outer diameter greater than 60 inches. A castor wheel is pivotally attached to the outer end of the main support frame, with an axle dampener operationally associated with the castor wheel to dampen wobbling of the castor wheel.