Hitching Rod Jaw and Pin Layout for Non-Interfering Transport

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hitching systems for agricultural or industrial vehicles face issues where lifting arms interfere with other components during transport, leading to potential damage or malfunction, as they are not effectively positioned for efficient movement without equipment.

Innovation Solution

A hitching system with a rotating ending plate and protrusions that allows for three configurations: lower clamping, floating, and upper clamping, enabling the lifting arms to be easily positioned for transport without interference, using a pin that slides within slots and interacts with stop elements to define different operational modes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the lifting arms are positioned in a high configuration for transport, then the vehicle can move without equipment interference, but the lifting arms still risk interfering with other components due to extended stop elements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle mobility during transportVSAvoidinterference with vehicle components
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The pin is designed to be movable along the slot of the jaw element, allowing dynamic adjustment between floating and clamped configurations. This enables the system to adapt its position based on operational needs, resolving the conflict between transport mobility and component interference by allowing the lifting arm to be positioned lower in clamped configuration during transport.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the positional parameter of the pin along the slot to switch between configurations. By moving the pin to different positions (floating vs. clamped), the lifting arm's position relative to the vehicle changes, eliminating interference with other components while maintaining transport mobility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the pin is allowed to slide freely in the slot for floating configuration, then the lifting arm can follow ground contours, but the lifting arm cannot maintain a fixed position when needed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefloating operation capabilityVSAvoidfixed position stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The pin's ability to move along the slot provides dynamic adaptability. The operator can choose to leave the pin free for floating operation (following ground contours) or move it to engage the stop elements for fixed position stability, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system allows the operator to manually position the pin along the slot based on operational requirements. The pin's design enables it to serve both floating and fixed functions depending on its position, making the system self-adaptable to different working conditions without requiring additional mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If the stop elements are extended to guide the sliding of the ending plate, then the floating configuration can be achieved, but the lifting arms are positioned very high in transport configuration causing interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefloating configuration capabilityVSAvoidlifting arm position height
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The slot is segmented into different zones: a first portion for floating configuration and a second portion for clamped configuration. The pin can be positioned in different segments of the slot to achieve different functions, allowing the lifting arm to be positioned lower in clamped configuration while maintaining floating capability when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

By changing the pin's position parameter along the slot, the system achieves different lifting arm heights. The extended stop elements guide the pin through different positions, enabling both floating operation and lower transport position to coexist without interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4085739B1Hitching system for an agricultural or industrial vehicle
Publication Date: 2023.11.01 CBM SPA
  • EP4085739B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4085739B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4085739B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The hitching system (1) for an agricultural or industrial vehicle, comprises: - at least one lifting arm (2); - at least one lifting rod (3) comprising a pair of jaw elements (4) adapted to receive the lifting arm (2), wherein each of the jaw elements (4) comprises one slot (5), and wherein at least one of the jaw elements (4) comprises one pair of stop elements (8) arranged alongside the slot (5) and extending parallel thereto; - connecting means (9) between the lifting rod (3) and the lifting arm (2) comprising at least one pin (10) insertable through the slots (5) of said jaw elements (4) and in one hole (11) defined on the lifting arm (2), and one ending plate (12) having an elongated shape and associated with one end of the pin (10); wherein the ending plate (12) comprises one main body (14) and one pair of protrusions (15) arranged at one end of the main body (14) and adapted to abut against the stop elements (8), and wherein the ending plate (12) is positionable in an at least an upper clamping configuration, wherein the protrusions (15) rest against the upper end of the stop elements (8).