Lateral Lever Quick Coupler Layout for Tight Grid Spacing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing quick couplers face challenges in providing simple, cost-effective, and reliable actuation mechanisms with minimal installation space requirements, especially in confined agricultural tractor environments, where different nominal sizes and small grid spacing are necessary without compromising connection dimensions or actuating lever accessibility.
Innovation Solution
The design features a housing with pivotable actuating levers having actuating cams and arms arranged perpendicularly to the reference plane, allowing for compact configuration and easy accessibility, with actuating arms extending parallel to the longitudinal axis and having a rectangular cross-section for optimal alignment and minimal grid spacing, and a fastening system that minimizes additional installation space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If actuating levers are arranged inside the housing, then installation space is reduced, but accessibility and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating portions are arranged on opposite sides of the housing in the longitudinal axis direction, utilizing the third dimension (longitudinal direction) rather than consuming lateral space. This dimensional reorientation allows the actuating mechanism to extend outward for accessibility while maintaining compact lateral footprint for minimal grid spacing.
2Area of stationary object
If grid spacing is reduced for compact arrangement, then space efficiency improves, but risk of unintentional operation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating portions are positioned asymmetrically on opposite sides of the housing along the longitudinal axis, creating a configuration where accidental simultaneous activation of both coupler cartridges is mechanically improbable. The opposite-side arrangement ensures that normal operational movements cannot inadvertently trigger both actuators.
3Ease of manufacture
If actuating arms are arranged parallel to reference plane, then manufacturing simplicity improves, but alignment precision and grid spacing control worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating arms are configured to pivot about axes perpendicular to the reference plane, transforming from static planar elements to dynamic three-dimensional components. This pivoting capability enables precise alignment control during operation while maintaining straightforward manufacturing of the arm structures themselves.
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
This configuration ensures reliable and cost-effective lever actuation with minimal installation space, allowing for various nominal sizes and small grid spacing, ensuring easy accessibility and efficient operation in confined spaces like agricultural tractors.
Implementation Method 1
a first actuating lever (32), which is pivotable with respect to a first axis of rotation (31)... a second actuating lever (42), which is pivotable with respect to a second axis of rotation (41)
Implementation Method 2
The first and second actuating arm (34, 44) arranged outside of the housing... in the direction of the longitudinal axis (11), on opposite sides of the housing
Data Source
AI summary
A quick coupler includes a housing in which a first and a second coupler cartridge are received. The spaced-apart center axes of the first and second coupler cartridges each run parallel to a vertical axis such that the center axes are contained in a common reference plane. The quick coupler further includes a first actuating lever and a second actuating lever for actuating the coupler cartridges. First and a second axes of rotation of the respective first and second actuating levers are oriented perpendicularly to the reference plane, and a first actuating arm and a second actuating arm are arranged to perpendicularly to the reference plane on opposite sides of the housing.