Oscillating Steering System for Agricultural Implements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pulled agricultural implements with side-by-side wheel arrangements experience instability during turns due to centered effective track width, making it difficult to achieve stability and good handling characteristics.
Innovation Solution
A multi-wheel oscillating steering system with in-line axles and wheel arrangements, where each wheel assembly is pivotably coupled to create proportional steering angles between the front and rear wheels, and actuating devices like hydraulic cylinders or electric motors control the wheel assemblies for active steering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a dual side-by-side wheel arrangement is used, then the effective track width becomes centered between the tires, but this causes instability during turns
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel arrangement is segmented into multiple independent wheel assemblies (front left, front right, rear left, rear right) that can oscillate independently. Each wheel assembly is pivotably coupled to allow individual oscillation, dividing the monolithic steering system into separable units that can be controlled independently to achieve stability during turns.
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel assemblies are made dynamically oscillating rather than fixed in position. The oscillating mechanism allows each wheel to actively adjust its angle relative to the axle, creating a dynamic steering system that can adapt to turning conditions and maintain stability, contrasting with static conventional wheel arrangements.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a dual in-line wheel arrangement is used, then minimal compaction and superior stability are achieved, but turning the agricultural implement becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The in-line wheel assemblies are equipped with oscillating mechanisms that enable active steering control. Instead of requiring manual turning of a rigid in-line arrangement, the system dynamically oscillates each wheel assembly to achieve the desired turning motion, making operation easier while maintaining the stability benefits of the in-line configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The oscillating steering system can automatically adjust wheel angles based on the implement's motion and terrain conditions. The system serves itself by sensing the need for steering adjustment and executing the oscillation movements without requiring constant manual intervention, thereby easing the turning operation while maintaining superior handling characteristics.
3Stability of the object's composition
If wheel assemblies are pivotably coupled to oscillate proportionally, then stability and handling are enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The steering functions of multiple wheel assemblies are merged into a coordinated oscillating system. The linkages and control mechanisms combine the motion of individual wheels into a unified proportional oscillation pattern, achieving enhanced stability through coordinated action while managing complexity through functional integration rather than independent control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The steering control is extended from a single-plane rotation to a multi-dimensional oscillating system. Each wheel assembly oscillates in its own plane while maintaining proportional relationships through linkages, adding a temporal and spatial dimension to the steering control that enhances handling while distributing complexity across multiple synchronized movements.
Data Source
AI summary
An oscillating in-line steering system for a pulled agricultural implement includes first and second in-line axles pivotably coupled with a frame. The system also includes at least first and second in-line wheel arrangements pivotably coupled with the first and second axles respectively. Each wheel arrangement has a plurality of pivotable wheel assemblies arranged in-line and wheel linkages coupling the in-line wheel assemblies such that in-line wheel assemblies oscillate together. A right-to-left linkage couples the wheel linkage of the first in-line wheel arrangement to the wheel linkage of the second in-line wheel arrangement so that the first in-line wheel arrangement oscillates at a steering angle proportional to that of the second in-line wheel arrangement.