Rake Wheel Assembly With Supported Spring Teeth for Wear Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rake wheels suffer from premature wear and breakage of spring teeth due to repeated flexing, leading to misalignment, binding, and reduced performance, necessitating frequent replacement and maintenance.

Innovation Solution

The rake wheel design incorporates support bodies or bushings within the hoop mounting holes to distribute the applied force over a greater length of the spring teeth, enhancing durability without increasing the diameter or adding material to the hoop.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If spring teeth are mounted directly through mounting holes in the hoop, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the spring teeth wear and breakage prematurely due to concentrated force

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespring tooth durabilityVSAvoidhoop structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A support body is introduced as an intermediary element between the mounting hole and the spring tooth. The support body extends into the mounting hole and provides a bearing surface that distributes the applied force along the length of the spring tooth, preventing concentrated stress at a single point and thereby reducing premature wear and breakage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The support body transforms the force distribution from a point contact (at the mounting hole) to a distributed contact along the length of the spring tooth. By extending the support body inward from the hoop, the force is distributed over a greater dimensional space, reducing stress concentration and improving durability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Duration of action of moving object

If support bodies are added to distribute force, then spring tooth lifespan is extended, but the hoop structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespring tooth lifespanVSAvoidmounting hole structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting hole structure is segmented into distinct functional zones: the hoop itself, the support body extending into the hole, and the spring tooth mounting region. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the support body can be designed specifically for force distribution without complicating the overall hoop design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support body is nested within the mounting hole, creating a compact structure where the support function is contained within the existing mounting hole geometry. This nesting approach adds the force-distributing function without increasing the external dimensions or overall complexity of the hoop assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Productivity

If spring teeth are made more durable through support bodies, then replacement frequency decreases, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverake wheel operational availabilityVSAvoidrake wheel manufacturing

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The support bodies are pre-formed and positioned within the mounting holes during the hoop manufacturing process, rather than being added as separate assembly steps. This preliminary integration ensures that the force-distributing function is built-in from the start, and the support bodies are securely positioned without requiring additional manufacturing operations.

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 improved design extends the lifespan of spring teeth by reducing wear and breakage, maintaining consistent performance and reducing the need for frequent replacements.

Implementation Method 1

distribute the applied force over a greater length of the spring teeth

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectForce distribution:

Implementation Method 2

this force 32 repeatedly flexes the body of the spring tooth 18 causing wear at the point where the spring tooth meets the outer hoop 16 reducing the cross section of the material of the spring tooth thus accelerating the fatigue both in bending and torsion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRepeated flexing: Fatigue

Data Source

PatentUS20260013439A1Improved rake wheel assemblies and methods of making the same

Publication Date: 2026.01.15 MYERS SPIRING INC

AI summary

An improved rake wheel assembly is provided, the rake wheel having a plurality of spring tooth tines which pass through individual mounting holes in an outer hoop, each mounting hole includes a support member which supports a portion of the length of the spring tooth tine to better dissipate forces applied to the body of the spring tooth tine and increase tine durability and longevity.