Rocker Link Lift System for Implement Weight Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural tillage implements with retractable wheels suffer from weight distribution issues, as the weight of lift cylinders adds to the rear, affecting tongue weight and potentially causing tool and roadway damage.
Innovation Solution
A fully adjustable wheel retracting system using a linkage assembly with a rocker link and actuator that pivots both gauge and lift wheels, shifting the implement's center of gravity forward and allowing for adjustable wheel extension, incorporating adjustable links for leveling features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If lift cylinders are located at or near the rear of the implement, then wheel retracting function is achieved, but weight distribution deteriorates (tongue weight affected)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional arrangement by placing the actuator at the front of the implement rather than the rear. The actuator connects to a rocker link that pivots on the front frame, which then connects to the wheel actuating links. This inversion shifts the weight forward, improving tongue weight while maintaining the wheel retracting function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a rocker link as an intermediary mechanism between the actuator and the wheel actuating links. The rocker link serves as a mediator that transfers motion from the front-mounted actuator to the rear wheels, enabling the weight shift while maintaining functional connectivity.
2Device complexity
If fixed wheel location is used, then implement structure is simplified, but tool and roadway damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic wheel positioning by connecting the wheels to adjustable links that can change length. This allows the wheel location to vary between retracted and extended positions, preventing damage to tools and roadway while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through the use of telescoping link mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of wheel position by incorporating adjustable length links in the wheel actuating mechanism. This allows the horizontal position of the wheels to be varied, enabling them to be retracted during transport and extended during field operations, thus avoiding damage while keeping the structure manageable.
3Ease of operation
If wheel extension is made controllable, then depth control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the wheel actuating mechanism multi-functional by using the same rocker link and actuator system to control both wheel extension/retraction and implement depth adjustment. This universal mechanism achieves depth control without proportionally increasing complexity, as one system performs multiple functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the wheel positioning function and depth control function into a single integrated mechanism. The actuator controls the rocker link, which simultaneously adjusts the wheel position and the implement depth through the connected wheel actuating links, reducing overall system complexity while achieving controllable depth adjustment.
Data Source
AI summary
A lift system for an implement has the lift cylinder near the implement front end. A rocker link with three vertically spaced pivot holes is located rearward of the cylinder and connected to an implement frame by a pivot pin through the center one of the holes. The lift cylinder is connected to the lower pivot hole while two further links are connected to the top hole and extend longitudinally away from one another to control raising and lowering of front and rear wheels respectively. As the cylinder extends and retracts, the rocker pivots causing the front and rear wheels to raise and lower in synchronism with each other. Fore and aft leveling adjustment may be achieved by including a turnbuckle in one of the further links to vary the length thereof relative to the other.