Pre-Tensioned Clamp Fastening for Stable Soil Tool Mounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fastening systems for soil working tools on agricultural implements tend to loosen during vibration, leading to suboptimal positioning and corrosion issues, and are cumbersome to attach or detach, especially in field conditions.

Innovation Solution

A fastening device comprising a clamp with a first yoke portion and shanks that engage the tool, an abutment member with bearing portions to surround the clamp, and a pre-tensioning device using a threaded rod and nut to securely attach the tool to a support, preventing sideways displacement and allowing easy tool change.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional fittings are used to attach soil working tools to agricultural implements, then the tools can be easily attached and detached, but the fittings tend to loosen and slide during vibration, causing the tools to lose their optimal position and leading to corrosion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of tool attachment and detachmentVSAvoidstability of tool positioning during operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening device is divided into distinct functional segments: a clamp portion for gripping the tool, a beam engagement portion for attaching to the support beam, and a pre-tensioning mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while working together as an integrated system, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pre-tensioning device applies preliminary tensile force to the clamp portion before the tool is subjected to operational vibrations. This preliminary action pre-compresses the interface between the clamp and the tool, creating friction that prevents loosening and sliding during subsequent use, thereby maintaining reliable tool positioning while keeping the attachment process simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Weight of moving object

If heavy soil working tools are fitted to agricultural implements, then the tools provide effective soil working capability, but the fitting process becomes cumbersome and requires manual work in uncomfortable positions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweight of soil working toolVSAvoidease of tool fitting and removal
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening device extracts the complex manual alignment and securing operations from the tool attachment process. The clamp portion with its pre-tensioning mechanism automatically grips the tool and secures it to the beam through a simplified operation, eliminating the need for workers to manipulate heavy tools in difficult positions while maintaining effective soil working capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Loss of time

If fittings are designed to be simple and quick for field conditions, then tool change can occur rapidly, but the fastening may not be secure enough to prevent loosening during vibration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime for tool change in fieldVSAvoidsecurity of fastening against loosening
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pre-tensioning device applies preliminary tensile force to the clamp portion before operational vibrations occur. This preliminary action pre-compresses the tool-clamp interface, creating sufficient friction to prevent loosening during vibration. The result is a fastening that is both quick to apply in field conditions and secure enough to maintain reliable tool positioning throughout operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution provides a stable and secure attachment of soil working tools, preventing loosening and corrosion, while simplifying the attachment and detachment process, ensuring tools remain optimally positioned and easy to replace in the field.

Implementation Method 1

a pre-tensioning device arranged, when fastening the tool to the support, to pre-tension said first and second yoke portions toward each other

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThreaded fastening mechanism: Screw

Data Source

PatentEP3800972B1Fastening device and method for releasable fixing of soil working tools to an agricultural implement
Publication Date: 2023.05.31 VAEDERSTAD HOLDING AB
  • EP3800972B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1c
  • EP3800972B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3800972B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The document relates to a fastening device 1 for fastening a soil working tool 6 to a support 5, comprising a clamp 2, comprising a first yoke portion 21 and two shanks 22a, 22b, arranged, when fastening the tool, to engage a fastening portion 61 of said tool 6 so that the clamp, viewed from the fastening portion, surrounds the support 5; an abutment member 3, comprising a second yoke portion 31 and two bearing portions 32a, 32b for bearing on the support 5, so that, from the support, the abutment member 3 surrounds the first yoke portion 21; and a pre-tensioning device 4 arranged, when fastening the tool to the support 5, to pre-tension said first and second yoke portions 21, 31 toward each other.