Positioning Ramp Hook Mechanism for Solo Tool Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing attachment mechanism for secondary tools to primary tools, such as rotary harrows and seed drills, is cumbersome and requires auxiliary assistance due to limited visibility and precise alignment requirements, leading to increased attachment time and complexity.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a primary tool with a front and rear hook, where one hook features a substantially horizontal positioning ramp and a guide ramp, allowing for guided pin insertion and automatic locking, enabling solo operation and faster attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional hook and pin attachment mechanism is used, then the secondary tool can be attached to the primary tool, but the attachment process is time-consuming and requires auxiliary assistance due to limited visibility and alignment difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning ramp is pre-formed on the hook surface, creating a guided path that automatically directs the pin into the correct position during attachment. This preliminary structural preparation eliminates the need for manual alignment adjustments and reduces attachment time without requiring auxiliary assistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning ramp acts as an intermediary element between the pin and the hook cavity. It mediates the attachment process by providing a physical guide that directs the pin along a predetermined path into the hook, simplifying the operation and eliminating visibility and alignment issues.
2Measurement precision
If traditional hook and pin attachment mechanism is used, then the secondary tool can be attached to the primary tool, but precise alignment is required which is difficult to achieve with limited visibility from the tractor cabin
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning ramp serves as a physical intermediary that provides alignment guidance. It translates the attachment motion into the correct angular and positional orientation, ensuring precise pin-hook alignment without requiring the operator to visually judge the alignment from the cabin.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning ramp enables the attachment mechanism to self-align during the attachment process. The ramp's geometry automatically guides the pin into the correct position as the secondary tool is brought toward the primary tool, eliminating the need for manual alignment adjustments or auxiliary personnel.
3Illumination intensity
If the driver gets off the tractor to correct alignment, then better visibility is achieved, but the attachment time is further increased
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning ramp provides tactile and visual guidance that works from the cabin perspective. It creates a visible and feelable path that guides the pin into the hook, allowing the driver to maintain proper alignment without exiting the vehicle, thus preserving both visibility and time efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment correction function is built into the positioning ramp structure itself. The ramp automatically corrects minor misalignments through its geometric design, eliminating the need for the driver to exit the tractor for manual adjustments, thereby maintaining continuous operation without time loss.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a combination of a primary tool (1) and a secondary tool (4) for attachment to the primary tool (1) by means of two connecting devices (8a, 8b), each connecting device (8a, 8b) comprising a hook (10a, 10b) and a trunnion (11a, 11b) for insertion into the corresponding hook (10a, 10b). The combination is notable in that one of the hooks (10a, 10b) has a substantially horizontal positioning ramp (9). The present invention also relates to the method of attaching the secondary tool (4) to the primary tool (1).