Mower Units with Vertical Pivot Axes for Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large mower units with working widths of 3.5m or more face challenges in being folded into a transport position that complies with road transport dimensions, leading to height and width issues, and existing semi-mounted transport chassis cause corner cutting, ground indentation, and incorrect overlap with the cutting path.
Innovation Solution
The mower units are positioned in a free-floating transport position, supported only by the tractor and hitch, with support arms pivoting horizontally to lie side by side, eliminating the need for a transport chassis and allowing weight distribution through the tractor's wheels, maintaining the mower units' track and reducing ground pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If mower units are folded up around pivot axes pointing in the direction of travel, then the mowing tools can be positioned for transport, but the overall height exceeds permissible road transport limits
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the pivot axis orientation from horizontal (pointing in direction of travel) to vertical (upright axis). This dimensional change allows the mower units to be positioned sideways relative to the tractor in transport position, reducing overall height while maintaining compliance with road transport width limits.
2Length of moving object
If mower units are swiveled beyond top dead center to reduce height, then the erected height decreases, but the width increases and mower units abut each other
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the pivot axis to a vertical orientation, the mower units can be positioned in the lateral dimension (side-by-side) rather than requiring excessive height reduction that would cause width increase and unit interference.
3Ease of operation
If a semi-mounted transport chassis is used, then the mower units can be positioned for transport, but the chassis wheels cause corner cutting and ground indentation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the transport chassis component entirely. The mower units are carried directly by the tractor via support arms with vertical pivot axes, removing the source of corner cutting and ground indentation caused by the chassis wheels.
Solution Approach 2:
The tractor itself serves the dual function of both transporting the mower units and providing stable ground contact through its own wheels, eliminating the need for a separate transport chassis with inadequate wheel size.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the transport chassis is used with small wheels, then the mower units can be transported, but high ground contact pressure creates tracks in damp soil
Solution Approach 1:
The transport chassis with inadequate wheels is completely removed from the system. The mower units are carried directly by the tractor, which uses its own appropriately sized wheels to distribute weight and avoid ground damage.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The large mower mechanism has a cultivation gantry (7) which is attached to the tractor (4). Two mower mechanism units (1,2) are projected in operative position lateral to the cultivation gantry. The support arms (6) supported at the cultivation gantry are provided for pivoting the mower mechanism units into transport position at the gantry such that the free-floating suspension of the mower mechanism units with respect to floor surface is enabled. The support arms are swingably supported around an upright pivotal axis.