Rear Folding Wing Steering Mechanism for Agricultural Implements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rear folding mechanisms for wide agricultural implements, such as seeders and rollers, face difficulties in maneuvering heavy wings from transport to field position, requiring costly and cumbersome mechanisms, especially when multiple implements are chained behind a tow vehicle, making it impractical to back up and align wings for attachment.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus and method involve pivotally mounted wing wheels that pivot from a transport position aligned with the travel direction to a field position perpendicular to it, using actuators to steer the wheels outward and leverage momentum or small final forces to extend the wings, reducing the need for high-force mechanisms and allowing easier transition in scenarios where reversing is problematic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional rear folding mechanisms are used for heavy implements, then the wings can be folded rearward for transport, but maneuvering the heavy wings from transport to field position requires costly and cumbersome mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary towing vehicle that provides the force necessary to move heavy wings from transport to field position. Instead of using a complex self-powered mechanism on the implement itself, the towing vehicle acts as an external intermediary that can easily exert the required force through the drawbar, resolving the contradiction between cost-effectiveness and ease of operation.
2Productivity
If multiple implements are chained behind a tow vehicle, then transportation efficiency is improved, but it becomes impractical to back up and align wings for attachment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional approach by having the wings automatically align during forward motion rather than requiring backward motion for alignment. The wheel steering mechanism causes wings to naturally swing outward to the field position during forward towing, eliminating the need to back up the implement chain for wing alignment and attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-alignment of the wings during normal forward towing operations. The steering mechanism causes the wings to automatically swing into the field position without requiring external intervention or reversing maneuvers, allowing operators to attach or detach implements while moving forward in the chain.
3Weight of moving object
If heavy wings are used for ground working implements, then operational effectiveness is improved, but maneuvering them from transport to field position requires high forces
Solution Approach 1:
The towing vehicle serves as an intermediary that provides the necessary force to move heavy wings. Rather than requiring the implement to generate high forces itself through complex mechanisms, the towing vehicle's engine and drawbar system provide the force externally, allowing heavy wings to be maneuvered without costly self-powered mechanisms on the implement.
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
This approach enables efficient and cost-effective movement of heavy rear folding wings into the field position without the need for complex mechanisms, facilitating the transportation of large and heavy implements in chains without the necessity for costly power systems.
Implementation Method 1
leverage momentum or small final forces to extend the wings
Data Source
AI summary
An agricultural implement apparatus includes a center section and wings pivotally attached to ends of the center section. Wing wheels are pivotally mounted to the wings about vertical axes. The wings can pivot from a transport position, where the wings extend rearward in alignment with the travel direction and where a rotational plane of each wing wheel is aligned with the corresponding wing, to a field position where the wings extend perpendicular from the center section and where the rotational plane of each wing wheel is perpendicular to the wing. Right and left wheel actuators pivot the wing wheels from the transport position to the field position as the apparatus moves in the operating travel direction by pivoting the right wing wheel such that a front edge thereof moves to the right, and by pivoting the left wing wheel such that a front edge there moves to the left.