Hydraulic Scissor Ejector Plate for Front End Loader
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing front end loader bucket systems fail to efficiently unload wet or sticky materials due to the ejector plate's inability to remain perpendicular to the bucket's bottom wall, leading to difficulties in material discharge, especially when the bucket's angle changes, and lack compactness and minimal weight optimization.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulically actuated scissor mechanism with a perpendicular ejector plate that moves between a collapsed and extended position, utilizing vertically spaced parallel tracks and pivotally connected link members, allowing the plate to remain perpendicular during discharge and maintaining a compact assembly for optimal bucket capacity and vehicle compatibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the ejector plate is designed to move with the bucket bottom wall, then the structure is simpler, but the ejector plate cannot remain perpendicular to the bottom wall when the bucket angle changes, reducing discharge efficiency for wet or sticky materials
Solution Approach 1:
The ejector mechanism is segmented into a separate ejector plate and link members that are independent from the bucket bottom wall. This allows the ejector plate to maintain its perpendicular orientation while the bucket angle changes, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and discharge efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The ejector plate is designed with dynamic movement capability through the link members and scissor mechanism, allowing it to adjust its position and maintain perpendicular orientation to the bottom wall regardless of the bucket's angular position, thereby maintaining discharge efficiency across varying operating conditions.
2Productivity
If the ejector mechanism is made fully extended to ensure proper ejector plate orientation, then discharge efficiency improves, but the bucket depth and overall assembly weight increase, reducing vehicle compatibility
Solution Approach 1:
The ejector plate and link members are designed to nest within the bucket assembly when in the collapsed position. The scissor mechanism allows the ejector plate to be stored compactly inside the bucket volume, minimizing the added depth and weight while maintaining full functionality during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The ejector mechanism utilizes vertical spacing and three-dimensional arrangement of the scissor link members to achieve compact storage. By arranging the link members in a vertically spaced configuration, the mechanism achieves both compactness when retracted and proper orientation when extended, without significantly increasing overall weight.
3Productivity
If the ejector plate is made larger to improve material discharge, then discharge efficiency for wet or sticky materials improves, but the bucket capacity is reduced due to the increased depth required for the mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The ejector plate and scissor mechanism are designed to nest within the existing bucket volume when retracted. This allows a larger ejector plate surface area to be used for improved discharge efficiency without increasing the overall bucket depth, thereby maintaining bucket capacity while enhancing material discharge capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic scissor mechanism allows the ejector plate to achieve its full extended length only when needed for discharge operations. During transport, the mechanism collapses to a compact position that minimizes space occupation, effectively allowing the bucket to maintain its full capacity while the ejector plate provides enhanced discharge performance when activated.
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
Enables efficient discharge of materials at any bucket angle without increasing bucket depth or weight, effectively handling wet or sticky materials like manure, sand, or soil, while maintaining compactness and ease of attachment to various vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
A hydraulic actuating cylinder unit is positioned between the upper set of link members and the lower set of link members and is pivotally connected to one pair of tracks and to one pair of link members for moving the ejector plate between its compact collapsed position and its extended forward ejecting or discharge position.
Data Source
AI summary
A front end loader supports a bucket having opposite side walls connected by a bottom wall. An ejector plate is supported for movement within the bucket between a collapsed position and an extended position by a scissor mechanism including a set of parallel forward tracks secured to the ejector plate and a set of parallel rearward tracks secured to the bucket. Upper and lower sets of pivotally connected and crossing link members are connected to the tracks by pivots and rollers, and a hydraulic cylinder is positioned between the sets of link members and is pivotally connected to the rearward tracks and to the link members. A hydraulic booster cylinder initiates forward movement of the ejector plate from its collapsed position, and the side walls of the bucket have opposing guide rails which hold the ejector plate adjacent the bottom wall of the bucket.