Pivot Plate Wheel Mounting for Fast Wheel Size Changes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Changing wheels on agricultural work vehicles, such as combines, is a difficult and time-consuming process that often requires storing different adapters and can result in changes to the vehicle's level, necessitating additional adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A mounting system with a pivot plate that allows for different orientations of plate mounting features and a final drive, enabling easy switching between differently sized wheels without altering the vehicle's level, using an actuator to maintain consistent height.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional wheel mounting systems are used, then wheels can be changed, but the process is difficult and time-consuming requiring multiple adapters and adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot plate is designed with multiple sets of mounting features that can accommodate different wheel sizes and configurations. Instead of requiring separate adapters for each wheel type, a single pivot plate with multiple mounting patterns (e.g., 4-lug, 6-lug, different hole spacing) allows the final drive assembly to mount various wheels directly, eliminating the need for multiple adapters and reducing wheel changing time
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple adapters are stored for different wheel sizes, then wheel compatibility is achieved, but device complexity and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple adapter functions are merged into a single pivot plate component. The pivot plate integrates multiple mounting feature sets that would otherwise require separate adapters, consolidating what would be multiple parts into one. This reduces the number of components to store and manage while maintaining compatibility with different wheel sizes and types
3Adaptability or versatility
If wheel size is changed, then traction characteristics can be optimized, but the vehicle's level changes requiring additional adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is designed to maintain the final drive assembly at a consistent height relative to the vehicle chassis regardless of which mounting features on the pivot plate are used. By configuring the multiple mounting features at different positions on the pivot plate, the system compensates for variations in wheel radius, ensuring the vehicle remains level when different wheel sizes are installed, thus eliminating the need for additional level adjustments
Data Source
AI summary
A mounting system for a work vehicle includes: an axle; a final drive coupled to the axle and configured to rotate a wheel mounted to the final drive; and a pivot plate coupling the final drive to the axle. The pivot plate includes a first arrangement of plate mounting features and a second arrangement of plate mounting features that differs from the first arrangement of plate mounting features, the final drive including at least one set of drive mounting features and being rotatable from a first orientation where the at least one set of drive mounting features is aligned with the first arrangement of plate mounting features to a second orientation where the at least one set of drive mounting features is aligned with the second arrangement of plate mounting features.