Haymaking Carrier with Direct Pin Positioning for Vegetation Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity of the connection between the carrier and the central pin in existing agricultural haymaking machines, such as the tedder described in EP 2 499 897 A1, leads to potential damage to vegetation during configuration changes, necessitating a simpler kinematic solution.
Innovation Solution
The central pin is rigidly attached to the carrier, and a positioning actuator moves it relative to the chassis, allowing the carrier to pivot directly around the central pin, thus avoiding contact with vegetation during configuration changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the carrier is connected to the chassis through an intermediate frame with multiple joints, then the carrier can be raised and lowered, but the kinematics become complex and vegetation may be damaged during configuration changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the intermediate frame from the mechanism, directly connecting the carrier to the chassis via a single central pin. This extraction of the unnecessary intermediate component simplifies the kinematic chain while preserving the essential functionality of raising and lowering the carrier through a single lifting actuator.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of the intermediate frame and central pin connection into a direct carrier-chassis connection. By combining these elements, the mechanism achieves simpler kinematics with fewer joints while maintaining the ability to change configurations and protect vegetation during transitions.
2Device complexity
If the carrier is raised directly without positioning the rotors first, then the configuration change is simpler, but the vegetation covering is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a positioning actuator that performs preliminary action by moving the central pin and positioning the rotors away from the ground before the carrier is raised. This preliminary positioning prevents vegetation damage during configuration changes while maintaining relatively simple kinematics through direct carrier-chassis connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning actuator serves as an intermediary mechanism that mediates between the carrier raising action and the vegetation protection requirement. It temporarily positions the rotors to avoid contact with vegetation during the transition, enabling both simple kinematics and vegetation protection.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple actuators and intermediate frames are used, then vegetation protection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the unnecessary intermediate frame from the system, reducing the number of components while maintaining vegetation protection capability through a streamlined mechanism with direct carrier-chassis connection and coordinated actuators.
Solution Approach 2:
The central pin serves multiple functions: it acts as the rotation axis for the carrier, the connection point for the positioning actuator, and the reference point for the lifting actuator. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components while maintaining vegetation protection during configuration changes.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an agricultural haymaking machine comprising a chassis resting on the ground by at least one wheel and intended to be coupled to a tractor able to move the machine in a direction of advance, a carrier carrying a plurality of rotors being swivel mounted to the chassis around a central pin oriented transversally to the direction of advance, each rotor being driven around a respective drive axis, and a lift actuator, articulated to the chassis on one hand and to the carrier on another hand, being able to make the carrier pivot around the central pin relative to the chassis, the machine being able to adopt a headland configuration in which the carrier is raised, as well as a work configuration in which the carrier rests on the ground by means of at least one support. The central pin is rigidly attached to the carrier, and the machine comprises a positioning actuator able to move the central pin relative to the chassis to change the position of the drive axes relative to the ground.