Quick Hitch Assembly Spacer Elements for Adjustable Width
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing quick hitch systems for agricultural vehicles require time-consuming and error-prone visual alignment of bolt apertures for adjusting hitch widths, making it difficult to couple various tractor implements of different configurations and dimensions.
Innovation Solution
A quick hitch assembly with spacer elements that can be easily swapped between the top link and side arm portions, allowing for adjustable dimensions and widths without the need for precise alignment, featuring a horizontal offset construction and dogleg-shaped spacer elements for secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If adjustable hitch width is provided by mounting legs onto a crossbar with multiple apertures, then the quick hitch can accommodate various implement configurations, but the adjustment process becomes time-consuming and error-prone due to visual alignment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces spacer elements as intermediary components between the crossbar and the legs. These spacers pre-establish the horizontal offset distance, eliminating the need for operators to visually align bolt apertures. The spacers act as mediators that translate the complex alignment task into a simple insertion operation, thereby reducing adjustment time while maintaining adaptability to various implement configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer elements are pre-configured with specific horizontal offset dimensions during manufacturing. This preliminary action of pre-setting the offset distance eliminates the need for operators to perform complex alignment calculations or visual matching during field adjustment. The pre-prepared spacers are simply inserted into the quick hitch assembly to achieve the desired hitch width configuration
2Device complexity
If visual alignment of bolt apertures is required for adjusting hitch widths, then the adjustment mechanism is simple in structure, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in precise alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer elements serve as intermediary components that simplify the adjustment operation. Instead of requiring operators to visually align bolt apertures on the legs with corresponding apertures on the crossbar, the spacers are inserted to pre-establish the correct horizontal offset. This intermediary component transforms a difficult alignment task into a simple insertion operation, significantly improving ease of operation while maintaining mechanical simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer elements are designed to be self-aligning components that automatically position the legs at the correct horizontal offset from the crossbar. The spacers incorporate features such as recesses and protrusions that guide proper positioning without requiring operator skill or visual alignment. This self-service characteristic allows operators of any skill level to easily adjust the hitch width by simply inserting the appropriate spacer
Data Source
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AI summary
There is described an adjustable width quick hitch assembly for an agricultural vehicle. The quick hitch assembly is provided with spacer elements which can be incorporated into the assembly as required, where the selection and positioning of the spacer elements results in an assembled quick hitch having various hitch widths.