Pivot-Linked High-Clearance Vehicle Chassis for Crop Spanning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing high-clearance vehicles for row crop maintenance lack stability and visibility, particularly on uneven terrain, as they are designed to span only one crop line and have a driving position that compromises vehicle stability.

Innovation Solution

A self-propelled straddle vehicle with a pivot connection between front and rear half-frames, featuring stabilization undercarriages and a motor unit, allowing it to span two crop lines while maintaining maximum visibility and stability on uneven terrain through adjustable connecting branches and force absorption devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If the driving position is placed in the upper part of the chassis to provide visibility, then visibility is improved, but vehicle stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovevisibilityVSAvoidvehicle stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The vehicle chassis is divided into two separate half-frames (front and rear) that can pivot independently. This segmentation allows the driving position to be elevated for visibility while the stabilizing wheels on each half-frame independently adapt to terrain irregularities, maintaining stability despite the high driving position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The half-frames are made dynamic through pivot connections that allow them to tilt and adjust their orientation relative to the ground. This dynamic capability enables the stabilizing wheels to maintain contact with uneven terrain while the driving position remains elevated, resolving the contradiction between visibility and stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If the vehicle is designed to span only one crop line, then structural simplicity is maintained, but visibility and safety on uneven terrain deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidvisibility and safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing the vehicle into two half-frames that can pivot independently, the design achieves both spanned crop lines (improving visibility and safety) and maintained structural simplicity. Each half-frame is relatively simple in structure, and their independent operation provides the benefits of spanning multiple crop lines without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Length of moving object

If the chassis dimensions are adapted for high-clearance operation between crop lines, then crop line spanning capability is improved, but stability on uneven terrain deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechassis spanVSAvoidstability on uneven terrain
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The pivot connections between the half-frames and the ground allow the chassis to dynamically adapt its configuration to uneven terrain. The stabilizing wheels on each half-frame can independently adjust to ground irregularities, maintaining stability despite the extended chassis dimensions required for high-clearance operation between crop lines.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2448808B1Self-propelled high-clearance vehicle
Publication Date: 2013.08.14 GROSJEAN RENE VITICOLE
  • EP2448808B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2448808B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2448808B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a self-propelled high-clearance vehicle that comprises: a front half-chassis (5) and a rear half-chassis that are placed one behind the other while being assembled together by means of a pivot linkage, the front half-chassis (5) and the rear half-chassis comprising a front drive train (51) and a rear drive train (61), respectively, which are lined up one behind the other along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, as well as a first so called left stabilizing drive train (52) and a second so-called right stabilizing drive train (62) which are placed on both sides of the longitudinal axis of the high-clearance vehicle; a driver cab (4) mounted on at least one of the half-chassis; and an engine unit (3) for moving the vehicle, mounted on at least one of the half-chassis.