Reversible Plow Lever Pivot Mount Fatigue Fracture

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Solution Overview

Problem

Reversible plows experience reduced service life due to tension between the adjustment lever and plow body mount, leading to fatigue fractures, caused by manufacturing tolerances.

Innovation Solution

The lever passing through the plow frame is connected to the plow body mount via a connector allowing pivoting movement about a horizontal axis, preventing significant tension and potential fatigue fractures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the adjustment lever is immovably connected to the plow body mount, then the connection is rigid and stable, but tension occurs due to manufacturing tolerances leading to fatigue fractures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidservice life
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The adjustment lever is connected to the plow body mount via a pivotable connection instead of a rigid welded connection. This allows the connection to dynamically adapt to manufacturing tolerances and operational stresses by permitting small angular movements, thereby preventing tension buildup and fatigue fractures while maintaining connection stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The connection type is changed from a fixed rigid connection to a pivotable connection with one degree of freedom. This parameter change allows the system to accommodate dimensional variations and stress variations without developing damaging tensions, thus improving reliability and service life.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Strength

If the lever is rigidly welded to the plow body mount, then the structural integrity is high, but manufacturing tolerances cause tension and fatigue fractures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidservice life
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The rigid welded connection is replaced with a pivotable connection that maintains structural integrity through controlled movement. The pivotable joint provides sufficient strength to transmit forces while accommodating manufacturing tolerances, preventing the development of damaging tensions that lead to fatigue fractures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

A pivotable joint acts as an intermediary element between the adjustment lever and the plow body mount. This intermediary component absorbs the dimensional variations and stress variations that would otherwise create damaging tensions in a rigidly welded connection, thereby extending service life while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the adjustment lever is allowed to move relative to the plow body mount, then tension is reduced, but the connection complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice lifeVSAvoidconnection complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connection is made dynamic by allowing pivotal movement of the adjustment lever relative to the plow body mount. This simple dynamic element reduces tension and extends service life without significantly increasing connection complexity, as the pivotable joint is a straightforward mechanical connection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The connection type is changed from completely fixed to partially movable, allowing one degree of freedom (pivoting motion). This parameter change reduces tension and improves reliability while maintaining relatively simple connection geometry and assembly procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 design effectively reduces the risk of fatigue fractures, enhancing the service life of the reversible plow by allowing movement that mitigates stress between the adjustment lever and the plow body holder.

Implementation Method 1

The lever passing through the recess in the plow frame is connected to at least a part of the plow body mount so that it can move, in particular pivot about an axis that is essentially horizontal when the plow body is in the working position.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPivoting movement: Hinge

Data Source

PatentEP2705740B1Reversible plough
Publication Date: 2015.12.02 AMAZONEN WERKE H DREYER GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2705740B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2705740B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2705740B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The rotary plow (1) has a plow frame (2) that is provided on ploughshare row (5) with plow portions. The ploughshare row is moved into operating position or inoperative position. The plow portions on a plow bracket (7) are supported on the plow frame to adjust the plow working width in the respective working positions. A recess of the plow frame configured to pass through a lever (13) movable with upper and lower brackets of the plow portion. The recess of the plow frame is passed through the lever.