Moldboard Modular Rail Design with Heat-Treated Segments
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturing of moldboards is time-consuming and costly, and they are prone to wear and tear, making replacement challenging and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
A moldboard assembly with upper and lower rails that are oriented at specific angles and reinforced with heat-treated rail segments, which are secured using fasteners that fit into channels formed by aligning rail bores and segment bores.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If moldboards are manufactured with standard rails, then manufacturing cost and time are reduced, but durability and resistance to wear and tear deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The rail is divided into two distinct segments: a standard rail portion and a heat-treated rail segment. This segmentation allows the majority of the rail to remain standard (maintaining ease of manufacture) while a specific portion receives heat treatment (improving durability where wear occurs). The heat-treated segment is positioned at the outer surface where wear and tear is most severe.
Solution Approach 2:
Heat treatment is applied locally to a specific segment of the rail rather than the entire rail. This local quality enhancement focuses the improved durability properties (hardness, wear resistance) precisely where they are needed - at the outer surface of the rail that contacts the moldboard - while leaving the rest of the rail unchanged, thus maintaining manufacturing efficiency.
2Reliability
If heat-treated rail segments are added to reinforce rails, then durability and wear resistance are improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heat-treated rail segment is prepared in advance as a separate component with pre-drilled holes and pre-applied fasteners. This preliminary preparation allows the reinforcement process to occur during moldboard assembly or maintenance rather than requiring complex in-situ heat treatment processes, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while still achieving improved wear resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
Fasteners serve as intermediaries to connect the heat-treated rail segment to the standard rail. These fasteners simplify the attachment process by providing a straightforward mechanical connection method, avoiding the need for complex welding or bonding processes that would increase manufacturing complexity.
3Strength
If entire moldboards are replaced when rails wear out, then structural integrity is maintained, but replacement time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The rail system is segmented into replaceable heat-treated segments and permanent standard portions. When wear occurs, only the heat-treated segment needs replacement rather than the entire moldboard, maintaining structural integrity of the standard portions while reducing replacement time and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat-treated rail segment is designed as a consumable component that can be discarded when worn and replaced with a new segment. The standard rail portions are recovered and retained for continued use, reducing overall replacement time and cost while maintaining the structural integrity of the moldboard assembly.
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
The solution provides a cost-effective and efficient method for reinforcing moldboards, enhancing their durability and reducing the time and cost associated with replacement and maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
securing the first rail segment to the upper rail with a first plurality of fasteners, each fastener of the first plurality of fasteners disposed in the first plurality of channels in a one-to-one correspondence
Data Source
AI summary
A moldboard assembly and method of reinforcing a moldboard assembly is disclosed. The moldboard assembly may comprise a moldboard including a front and a back, an upper rail and a lower rail spaced apart from the upper rail, and a back plate. The upper rail and the lower rail each may be mounted to and extend lengthwise across the back of the moldboard. The upper rail may be oriented to slope upward at a first angle from a vertical plane, and the lower rail may be oriented to slope downward at a second angle from the vertical plane. Each of the upper rail and lower rail include a top, a bottom, an inner side and an outer side disposed opposite to the inner side. The back plate may be mounted to the inner side of the upper rail and to the inner side of the lower rail.