Weight Adapter Bracket for Rear Hitch Ballast Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ballast assemblies mounted on the lower lift arms of a tractor's 3-point hitch assembly often interfere with the use of the drawbar and PTO shaft, necessitating a simpler mechanism for mounting weights on the rear hitch of a tractor.
Innovation Solution
A drawbar support or hitch frame with brackets that include slots for hydraulic cylinders and a weight adapter with a lug and coupling pins, allowing for removable and secure mounting of weights on the tractor's rear hitch, while maintaining functionality for different tractor configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a ballast assembly is carried by the lower lift arms of a 3-point hitch assembly, then counter-balancing stability is improved, but interference with drawbar and PTO shaft use occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The ballast assembly is extracted from the lower lift arms and relocated to the upper hitch assembly, separating the ballast function from the lift arm structure to eliminate interference with drawbar and PTO shaft operations
Solution Approach 2:
The ballast assembly is repositioned from a lower vertical position to an upper vertical position on the hitch assembly, changing the spatial dimension of mounting to resolve the conflict between stability and component accessibility
2Stability of the object's composition
If a ballast assembly is mounted on the lower lift arms, then counter-balancing is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The upper hitch assembly is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides the primary hitch connection for implements and simultaneously serves as a mounting location for ballast weights, eliminating the need for separate mounting structures
Solution Approach 2:
The ballast mounting function is merged with the existing upper hitch assembly structure, combining two functions (hitch connection and ballast mounting) into a single integrated component to reduce overall system complexity
3Stability of the object's composition
If weights are permanently mounted on the tractor, then stability is improved, but adaptability for different configurations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The ballast mounting system uses removable pins and slots that allow the ballast weights to be dynamically added or removed based on operational requirements, transforming a static permanent mounting into a dynamic adjustable system
Solution Approach 2:
The ballast assembly is segmented into removable components that can be independently mounted or dismounted, allowing flexible configuration changes while maintaining stability when needed
Data Source
AI summary
A weight adapter bracket is provided for a drawbar support frame having a cylinder coupling member for coupling to a hydraulic cylinder. The coupling member has a slot for removably receiving an end of the cylinder. The adapter bracket includes a lug which extends from a flange. The lug is removably receivable by the coupling member, and the flange is adapted to engage and support a weight. A coupling bore extends through the lug and bracket bores extend through the coupling member. A coupling pin is insertable through the coupling bore and the bracket bores and to releasably hold the bracket in the coupling member. A pin bore extends vertically through the bracket, and a further coupling pin is removably insertable through the pin bore. The further coupling pin is adapted to engage a weight which is mounted on the bracket.