Pivotable Drawbar Trailer for Soil Compaction Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing agricultural trailers are mechanically complex and expensive, and inefficient in reducing soil compaction due to their wheel load distribution methods.

Innovation Solution

A trailer chassis with a front axle and rear axle, each equipped with freely rotating wheels, mounted on a frame via turntables, and a pivotable drawbar that can be adjusted between perpendicular and oblique positions to distribute the load and reduce soil compaction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional trailers use fixed perpendicular wheel orientation, then structural simplicity is maintained, but soil compaction is increased due to concentrated wheel load

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesoil compactionVSAvoidtrailer structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the rear axle orientation adjustable relative to the direction of movement. The rear axle can be positioned at different angles (e.g., 0°, 45°, 90°) using a pivotable connection with locking mechanisms, allowing the trailer to dynamically adapt its wheel track width to distribute load and reduce soil compaction while maintaining structural simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of manufacture

If the drawbar is fixed perpendicular to the front axle, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but load distribution efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechassis manufacturingVSAvoidload distribution efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The drawbar is designed with a pivotable connection to the front axle, allowing it to be positioned at different angles relative to the front axle direction. This dynamic adjustment capability enables optimal load distribution across different terrain conditions while maintaining a simple manufacturing process that does not require complex mechanical systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If existing proposals use complex mechanical systems for load redistribution, then load distribution is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewheel load concentrationVSAvoidmechanical system
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the trailer chassis into independent adjustable components: the front axle with pivotable drawbar connection and the rear axle with pivotable orientation. Each segment can be independently positioned and locked at desired angles, achieving load distribution through simple modular adjustments rather than complex integrated mechanical systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs simple, inexpensive locking mechanisms (such as pins or latches) rather than complex hydraulic or electronic systems. These basic mechanical components are sufficient to maintain the adjusted positions, providing an cost-effective solution that avoids expensive complex machinery while effectively reducing wheel load concentration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentEP3175691B1Flexible wheel track system for in-field trailer
Publication Date: 2020.12.16 AGRO INTELLIGENCE APS
  • EP3175691B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3175691B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4

AI summary

The present invention relates to a trailer to be pulled by a vehicle, typically a tractor (2). The trailer is designed to reduce a level of soil compaction by the combination of tractor and the trailer in that a drawbar (9) and a rear axle (4) can be turned and locked in to be oblique to a forward direction of the trailer whereby, when the trailer is pulled by the tractor, the trailer will orient itself oblique to a direction of motion. Thereby, tramlines of wheels (5) of the trailer can be positioned outside of or between tramlines of wheels of the tractor (2), and the accumulated load from the wheels and thus soil compaction is reduced.