Haymaking Catching Element with Single-Drive Support Arm Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing haymaking machines require separate drive elements for pivoting and length adjustment of the support arm, leading to a complex and potentially unreliable mechanism for the catching element.
Innovation Solution
A linear drive is used to simultaneously adjust the sliding part and pivot the support arm into a passive position, with a retaining mechanism ensuring the arm remains in the active position until the sliding part reaches the inner position, simplifying the adjustment process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate drive elements (e.g., hydraulic cylinders) are used for pivoting and length adjustment of the support arm, then both functions can be performed, but the device complexity increases and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate drive elements (one for pivoting the support arm and one for length adjustment) into a single linear drive mechanism. This linear drive simultaneously performs both functions: it pivots the support arm between active and passive positions while also adjusting the length of the support arm through a sliding part. This merging reduces device complexity and improves reliability by eliminating one drive element and its associated control system.
Solution Approach 2:
The single linear drive mechanism is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both the pivot drive for the support arm and the length adjustment drive. The mechanism achieves this through a clever mechanical arrangement where the linear drive's movement translates into both rotational motion of the support arm and linear displacement of the sliding part, enabling one component to fulfill the roles previously requiring two separate components.
2Reliability
If the support arm is made pivotable without a retaining mechanism, then the mechanism is simpler, but accidental pivoting during length adjustment may occur reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a retaining mechanism that acts as an intermediary between the linear drive and the support arm pivot joint. This retaining mechanism includes a retaining element that can engage with a retaining component on the support arm base, preventing accidental pivoting during length adjustment. The retaining mechanism is actuated by the linear drive itself, using the drive's movement to automatically engage and disengage the retaining element at appropriate times, thus providing reliability without requiring an entirely separate control system.
Data Source
AI summary
A haymaking machine has a rake rotor with frame and support arm provided with a base part and a sliding part. The base part is pivotably connected to the frame about a support arm axis to enable the support arm to pivot between a lowered active position and a raised passive position. The sliding part is slidable relative to the base part between an inner position and an outer position for length adjustment of the support arm. The outer position is farther removed from the support arm axis than the inner position. A catching element is connected to the sliding part. A linear drive is connected to frame and sliding part to move the sliding part into the inner position and pivot the support arm from active position into passive position. A retaining mechanism holds the support arm in active position until the sliding part has reached the inner position.