Pivotable Shank Mechanism for Compact Agricultural Cultivator Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Field cultivators with large operating widths pose challenges for transportation on public roads due to width constraints, as folding mechanisms often result in a wide folded configuration that exceeds regulatory limits, limiting the number of foldable sections and operating width.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of pivotable shanks mounted to a frame, which can pivot at least 70° to switch between operating and folding positions, and a locking mechanism to selectively prevent or allow pivoting, reducing the clearance between sections and minimizing the folded width.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If the cultivator is designed with multiple foldable sections to reduce transport width, then the folded width is reduced, but the number of folds required increases and the operating width is constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The shanks are designed to pivot dynamically between operating and folding positions. During operation, shanks extend outward to maximize working width. During transport, shanks pivot inward to minimize folded width, reducing the number of foldable sections needed and simplifying the overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The shanks utilize a third dimension (vertical pivoting motion) to achieve width reduction. Instead of relying solely on horizontal folding of multiple sections, the shanks pivot vertically inward, allowing the cultivator to meet road width regulations with fewer foldable sections.
2Productivity
If the cultivator operating width is increased to improve productivity, then more foldable sections are needed, but the folded width exceeds public road travel regulations
Solution Approach 1:
The shanks provide dynamic adjustability between wide operating configuration and compact transport configuration. This allows the cultivator to achieve large operating width for high productivity while automatically reducing to compliant folded width for road transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the spatial parameters of the shanks from extended horizontal positions during operation to retracted inward positions during transport. This parameter change allows the same structure to satisfy both large operating width requirements and small folded width regulations.
3Device complexity
If the shanks are made fixed to simplify the structure, then the device complexity is reduced, but the folded width cannot be minimized
Solution Approach 1:
The shanks incorporate a simple pivot mechanism with locking capability, providing dynamic positioning between operating and folding states. This minimal mechanical addition enables width minimization without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An agricultural implement includes a chassis; a frame carried by the chassis; and a shank pivotably mounted to the frame which is pivotable about a pivot axis to switch between an operating position and a folding position, the shank pivoting at least 70° about the pivot axis to switch between the operating position and the folding position.