Link Holder Ball Element Elastic Engagement Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing top link holders on agricultural tractors require operation of a lever-operated retaining jaw to engage and constrain the top link, which can be cumbersome and inefficient for coupling with implements.
Innovation Solution
A link holder with a ball element having a cross-section greater than the hook's opening, made of resilient materials like PA6 or EPDM, allowing it to be clipped into engagement without a lever, utilizing a C-shaped or arcuate design with resilient means for compression and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a lever-operated retaining jaw is used to engage the top link, then the link holder can securely constrain the top link, but the operation becomes cumbersome and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the lever-operated retaining jaw mechanism from the hook assembly, extracting the cumbersome manual operation component while retaining the essential function of securing the top link through the ball element's inherent elastic properties
Solution Approach 2:
The ball element is designed with elastic properties that enable it to automatically engage and secure itself within the hook's mouth portion without requiring external manual operation of retaining mechanisms, making the system self-securing
2Reliability
If the ball element has a cross-section greater than the hook's opening, then secure engagement is achieved, but the ball element cannot be inserted without compression
Solution Approach 1:
The ball element's cross-sectional dimension is designed to be larger than the hook's opening when in its natural state, but its elastic properties allow temporary compression to reduce the dimension for insertion, after which it expands to provide secure engagement
Solution Approach 2:
The ball element is constructed from resiliently flexible material that can be compressed and deformed to pass through the hook's opening, then returns to its original shape to provide secure constraint, eliminating the need for complex compression mechanisms
3Ease of operation
If a resiliently flexible material is used for the ball element, then ease of engagement without lever operation is achieved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ball element's elastic properties and dimensional tolerances are specifically designed to work within the existing hook geometry, using material resilience to compensate for normal manufacturing variations rather than requiring extremely tight tolerances
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 secure and efficient engagement of the top link with the implement without manual operation of the lever-operated retaining jaw, enhancing ease of use and stability during movement.
Implementation Method 1
the ball element is formed to be compressible to a cross-section less than the predetermined size
Implementation Method 2
the ball element has a cross-section greater than the predetermined size and is formed to be compressible to a cross-section less than the predetermined size
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A link holder (24) for constraining movement of a pivotable link (10) terminated by a quick release hook (16) on a vehicle or machine, such as an implement mounting linkage of an agricultural tractor, includes a ball element (32). The hook (16) has a mouth portion with an opening of a predetermined size when the hook is closed, and the ball element (32) has a cross-section greater than the predetermined size and is formed to be compressible to a cross-section less than the predetermined size. This enables the ball element (32) to engage the hook without opening it.