Agricultural Mower Protective Cover with Sliding-Pivot Linkage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural implements, such as mowing machines, face challenges in maintaining a large impact surface for protecting against flying debris while ensuring easy access for maintenance and repair, as prior designs often result in cumbersome and jam-prone mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A protective device with a sliding and pivoting mechanism using two linkage assemblies that allow for a smooth transition between upright and horizontal positions, enabling easy access to working units without jamming, by coordinating a sliding movement with a pivoting motion through coordinated linkage arrangements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the protective device is positioned close to the working units to capture flying stones quickly, then the protection effectiveness is improved, but the access to working units for maintenance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The protective device is designed to be movable between a first position (close to working units for protection) and a second position (away from working units for maintenance access). The device includes linkage assemblies that enable smooth transition between these positions, allowing the system to dynamically adapt to different operational requirements.
2Ease of operation
If a pivotable protective cover is used to allow maintenance access, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to suspension elements
Solution Approach 1:
The protective device is divided into multiple sections or panels that can move independently or in coordination. This segmentation allows the protective device to achieve the desired maintenance access without requiring complex overall mounting mechanisms, as each segment can be positioned separately.
3Reliability
If the protective device is made rigid to maintain impact surface integrity, then the protection effectiveness is improved, but the ease of repair deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The protective device transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic system that can change its configuration. When maintenance is needed, the device moves to a position that provides access to working units while maintaining the integrity of the impact surface when in the protective position.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an agricultural implement, particularly in the form of a mower, comprising a mounting device for attachment to a tractor, at least one working unit, and a protective device comprising an impact surface, in particular a protective cover, that upright surrounds the at least one working unit. According to the invention, the protective device is slidably mounted along a horizontal path by means of a first linkage arrangement, wherein the protective device is pivotably mounted on the first linkage arrangement about a horizontal pivot axis and is articulated to a second linkage arrangement, which pivots the protective device about the horizontal pivot axis when it is moved along the horizontal path defined by the first linkage arrangement and rotates the impact surface from the upright working position to a horizontal mounting position.