Agricultural Implement Suspension Damping for Transport Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural machinery, particularly ploughs, experience instability and increased wear during transport due to significant weight and forces from changes in speed or direction, leading to operator discomfort and potential hazards on public roads.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a suspension system with hydraulic and/or electro-hydraulic actuators connected to the agricultural implement, allowing for reactive damping by adjusting the position of the implement relative to the work vehicle in response to suspension activation, thereby mitigating the impact of inertia and rotational momentum during braking or directional changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the plough implement is fully-mounted and lifted above the road surface during transport, then the implement can be transported without ground contact, but the significant weight rests entirely on the agricultural work vehicle creating stress and instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies counterweight principles by allowing the plough implement to partially contact the road surface during transport, using the ground reaction force to support part of the implement's weight. This reduces the load on the vehicle's suspension system and hitch, preventing the stress and instability that would occur if the implement were fully lifted without ground contact.
2Ease of operation
If the plough implement is fully-mounted and lifted above the road surface during transport, then the implement can be transported without ground contact, but forces from changes in speed or direction are substantially amplified leading to instability and increased wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs beforehand cushioning by allowing controlled ground contact between the plough implement and road surface during transport. This ground contact acts as a cushion that absorbs and dampens forces generated by changes in speed or direction, preventing the amplification of forces that would otherwise occur and reducing instability and wear during transport.
3Ease of operation
If ground engaging tools are lifted off the ground during transport, then the implement can be moved to and from work area, but operator discomfort and potential hazards on public roads occur due to instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by allowing only certain parts of the plough implement to contact the road surface during transport, rather than fully lifting or fully grounding the implement. This partial ground contact provides sufficient stability to prevent operator discomfort and hazards while still allowing the implement to be moved to and from work areas.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to agricultural machinery comprising an agricultural implement (110) connectable to an agricultural work vehicle (107), the agricultural implement (110) comprising a plurality of ground engaging tools (22a, 22b, 24a, 24b, 26a, 26b, 28a, 28b, 30a, 30b). The agricultural machinery further comprises at least one actuator (70, 218, 318) for moving one or more components of the agricultural implement, wherein the at least one actuator (70, 218, 318) is functionally connectable to a suspension system of an agricultural work vehicle (107) so as to move one or more components of the agricultural implement in response to an activation of the suspension system. The present disclosure further relates to a method of controlling agricultural machinery that comprises moving one or more components of the agricultural implement in response to an activation of the suspension system.