Offset Hitch Bale Accumulator for Balanced Traction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bale accumulator systems face challenges with uneven pulling forces when traversing undulating surfaces, particularly when hitched to hay balers, leading to strain on tractors and baler axles due to angled pulling relationships.
Innovation Solution
An offset hitch system incorporating pitch, roll, and yaw movement assemblies, along with an offset movement assembly, allows for adjustable positioning of the bale accumulator across varying terrain, enabling both in-line and offset bale accumulation while maintaining even traction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a fixed hitch connection is used between the baler and accumulator, then the structure is simple, but uneven pulling forces occur on undulating surfaces causing strain on tractors and baler axles
Solution Approach 1:
The hitch connection is transformed from a fixed rigid structure to a dynamic multi-degree-of-freedom system that can adapt its configuration. The pitch movement assembly allows rotation about a pitch axis, the roll movement assembly allows rotation about a roll axis, and the yaw limiting movement assembly allows controlled rotation about a yaw axis. This dynamic adaptability enables the hitch to maintain balanced pulling forces on undulating surfaces while remaining structurally relatively simple.
2Reliability
If a multi-degree-of-freedom movement assembly is added to balance pulling forces, then pulling force balance is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex movement functionality is segmented into three independent movement assemblies: pitch movement assembly (with pitch axis and pitch stop), roll movement assembly (with roll axis and roll stop), and yaw limiting movement assembly (with yaw axis and yaw stop). Each assembly handles a specific degree of freedom, making the overall complex system manageable through modular segmentation. This segmentation allows the system to achieve pulling force balance while keeping individual components relatively simple.
3Productivity
If the accumulator is positioned offset from the baler, then bale accumulation efficiency is improved, but the pulling relationship becomes angled causing strain on equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The offset position of the accumulator relative to the baler is maintained for productivity, while the dynamic hitch assembly compensates for the angular pulling relationship. The pitch, roll, and yaw movement assemblies work together to keep the pulling forces balanced even when the accumulator is offset, preventing strain on the baler axles and tractor while maintaining efficient bale accumulation.
Data Source
AI summary
An offset hitch bale accumulator hitch for connecting a hay baler to a bale accumulator including a pitch axle based pitch movement assembly, a roll movement assembly using a long channel twisting joint, a yaw limiting movement assembly use double arm connections and an offset movement assembly including a beam in tube linear joint controlled by an extension actuator perpendicular the forward and backward towing forces.