Leveling Mower Hitch Hydraulic Tension Link
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional towed mowing implements face challenges in maintaining a consistent mowing height due to the need for levelling rods, which gather debris and interfere with cleaning, and require complex mechanisms to keep the mower deck level as rear wheels move up and down.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic control system that uses pivotally mounted rear wheels and a tension link mechanism to maintain a constant front-to-rear angle of the implement frame relative to the ground surface, eliminating the need for levelling rods by adjusting the position of the tension link in response to the movement of the rear wheels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If levelling rods are used to maintain constant front-to-rear angle, then the mower deck remains level during operation, but the rods gather debris and interfere with cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the levelling rods from the mower deck structure entirely. Instead, it uses a hydraulic cylinder to pivot the entire front hitch assembly, which maintains the constant front-to-rear angle without any rods that could accumulate debris. This extraction of the problematic component directly resolves the contradiction.
2Manufacturing precision
If levelling rods and complex mechanisms are used to maintain constant angle, then mowing height consistency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the angle-maintaining function into the overall hitch assembly pivot motion. The hydraulic cylinder pivots the entire front hitch assembly about a pivot axis, and this single motion simultaneously maintains both the constant front-to-rear angle and the mowing height consistency, eliminating the need for separate levelling rods and complex mechanisms.
3Manufacturing precision
If the front hitch assembly is pivotally attached to maintain constant angle, then mowing height consistency is improved, but the mechanism requires complex pivot and link arrangements
Solution Approach 1:
The front hitch assembly pivot serves multiple functions simultaneously: it maintains the constant front-to-rear angle, supports the mower deck at the proper height, and enables the hydraulic cylinder to control the leveling motion. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components.
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 solution ensures a consistent height of cut or ground penetration for working tools, reduces debris accumulation, and simplifies maintenance by eliminating the need for levelling rods, while allowing the implement to maintain a stable orientation during operation.
Implementation Method 1
A hydraulic control is operative to direct hydraulic fluid to a rear hydraulic cylinder to selectively move the rear wheels upward and downward with respect to the implement frame
Implementation Method 2
A front hydraulic cylinder is operative to move the front end of the tension link forward and rearward
Data Source
AI summary
An implement includes a hydraulic control to move rear wheels upward and downward. A hitch frame has a rear end pivotally connected to a front of the implement's frame about an upper hitch pivot axis and a front end connectable to a tractor drawbar. A tension link has a rear end pivotally connected to the front end of the implement about a lower hitch pivot axis located below and parallel to the upper hitch pivot, and a front end movably mounted to a front of the hitch frame. A front hydraulic cylinder moves the front end of the tension link forward and rearward. The hydraulic control activates the front hydraulic cylinder to move the tension link rearward as the rear hydraulic cylinder moves the rear wheels upward with respect to the implement frame, and to move the front end of the tension link forward as the rear wheels move downward.