Interchangeable Holder for Work Vehicle Implement Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional holders for coupling work implements to work vehicles are heavy, reducing the rated carrying capacity and increasing manufacturing costs due to the need for unique left and right holders, which are typically made of heavy iron.
Innovation Solution
A common, lightweight holder made of materials like aluminum, which is interchangeable between the right and left loader arms, reducing weight and manufacturing costs, and featuring steel and polymer-based bushings for stress relief and wear resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If heavy iron holders are used for coupling work implements, then wear resistance and strength are improved, but the weight of the holder increases, reducing the rated carrying capacity of the work vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is constructed using composite materials, specifically a polymer matrix composite reinforced with fiber reinforcements (such as glass fiber, carbon fiber, or aramid fiber). This composite structure provides sufficient strength and wear resistance comparable to iron holders while significantly reducing the weight, thereby resolving the contradiction between strength and weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameters from traditional iron to advanced polymer matrix composites with specific fiber reinforcements. This parameter change in material composition and structure achieves the required mechanical properties (strength and wear resistance) with a much lower density, thus reducing holder weight while maintaining performance.
2Reliability
If unique left and right holders are manufactured, then the specific wear requirements for each side are met, but the manufacturing cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The holder design incorporates symmetric or reversible features that allow a single holder design to be used on both the left and right sides of the work vehicle. The polymer matrix composite material and fiber reinforcement structure provide uniform wear resistance in all directions, eliminating the need for side-specific holders and reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of homogeneous polymer matrix composite material with uniformly distributed fiber reinforcements creates holders with consistent mechanical properties throughout. This homogeneity ensures that a single holder design performs reliably on both sides, reducing the need for differentiated left and right holders and simplifying the overall system.
3Strength
If heavy iron holders are used, then the structural integrity is maintained, but the fuel consumption of the work vehicle increases
Solution Approach 1:
The polymer matrix composite holder with fiber reinforcements maintains structural integrity through the high strength-to-weight ratio of the composite material. The reduced weight of the holder compared to iron directly decreases the overall vehicle mass, which reduces the energy required for movement and operation, thereby lowering fuel consumption while preserving structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
Changing the material parameters from dense iron to low-density polymer matrix composites with appropriate fiber reinforcement alters the weight parameter of the holder. This parameter change reduces the overall vehicle mass, leading to lower energy consumption during operation while maintaining the necessary structural integrity through optimized composite material properties.
Data Source
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AI summary
A work vehicle (10) including a work implement (52) having a left mounting pin and a right mounting pin laterally spaced from the left mounting pin and a boom assembly (60) configured to manipulate the work implement. The work vehicle includes first and second holders (8) coupling the work implement to the boom assembly, and each of the holders having a left holder opening (142) and a right holder opening (152) laterally spaced from the respective left holder opening. In a first configuration, the left mounting pin connects to the left holder opening of the first holder and the right mounting pin connects to the right holder opening of the second holder. The first and second holders (8) are identical and interchangeable such that in a second configuration, the left mounting pin connects to the left holder opening of the second holder and the right mounting pin connects to the right holder opening of the first holder.