Haymaking Machine Cantilever Arm Length-Adjusting Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hay-making machines, particularly rotary rakes, face challenges in achieving driving stability and ease of use during transport and operation, with complex and costly folding mechanisms that require manual conversion and limited adjustability of working width.
Innovation Solution
A cantilever arm composed of a coupling mechanism and a prismatic guide forms a length-changing mechanism, allowing for stepless adjustment of the rotary rake's position and working width, combined with a hydraulic drive system for efficient folding and lifting, reducing the machine's transport height and improving stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If traditional folding mechanisms are used to reduce transport height, then transport height is reduced, but device complexity and manual conversion effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The boom arm incorporates a telescopic mechanism with variable length, allowing it to dynamically adjust between a retracted position during transport and an extended position during operation. This dynamic adjustment eliminates the need for complex folding joints and manual conversion operations, resolving the contradiction between reducing transport height and maintaining operational effectiveness.
2Length of stationary object
If rotor arms are removed and reattached for transport, then transport height is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates due to manual conversion effort
Solution Approach 1:
The boom arm's telescopic mechanism automatically adjusts its length based on operational requirements. During transport, it retracts to minimize height without requiring manual intervention. During operation, it extends to the required working length automatically or with minimal control input, eliminating the need for operators to manually remove and reattach components.
3Adaptability or versatility
If fixed working width is used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability deteriorates due to limited working width variation
Solution Approach 1:
The boom arm features a variable length capability through its telescopic mechanism, allowing the working width to be dynamically adjusted according to different operational requirements. This enables the same machine to handle various crop types and field conditions without requiring multiple specialized components or complex adjustment mechanisms.
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 enables a wide range of working width adjustments and enhances driving stability by lowering the center of gravity, simplifying the folding process, and reducing manual effort and construction complexity, while maintaining a compact transport form.
Implementation Method 1
combined with a hydraulic drive system for efficient folding and lifting
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1a
Figure 2
AI summary
The machine (1) has rakes (2, 2') that are rotatably driven about a spinning axis and include toothed arms. One of the rakes is foldable at a frame by extension arms (9, 9') and is hinged about a horizontally running axis of foldable joints (10, 10'). The extension arms include two base elements, where one of the base elements is formed as a linkage (18) and the other base element is designed as a prismatic guide (17) that retains the rake (2) in a translationally movable manner and cooperatively forms a length modifying mechanism.