Rotary Rake Segmented Arm Dynamics for Compact Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rotary rakes face challenges in achieving a wide working width while maintaining compact transport dimensions and maneuverability, due to the need for long running frames that complicate handling and increase the risk of uncollected swath material during curve driving.
Innovation Solution
A rotary rake design featuring elongated arm members with multiple pivot joints allows for a large ratio of longest to shortest effective arm length, enabling a wide working width and compact transport configuration, along with a short running frame and adjustable rotors to minimize uncollected material and improve maneuverability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the running frame is made long to allow unimpeded swinging of the arm and rotor, then the arm can swing between working and transport positions without collision, but the general manoeuvring of the rotary rake becomes difficult and statutory requirements concerning vehicle size are harder to observe
Solution Approach 1:
The arm is divided into multiple sectioned parts that can pivot relative to each other about vertical pivot axes. This segmentation allows the arm to fold into a compact configuration for transport while maintaining the capability to extend to a long effective arm length for working operations, eliminating the need for a long running frame.
Solution Approach 2:
The arm structure is made dynamically adjustable between different configurations. The sectioned arm members can pivot between extended and retracted positions, allowing the rotary rake to adapt its width for both working and transport conditions without requiring a permanently long running frame.
2Ease of operation
If the running frame is made long to allow unimpeded swinging of the arm and rotor, then the arm can swing between working and transport positions without collision, but the rotary rake structure becomes more complex and harder to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The arm is divided into multiple sectioned parts that can pivot relative to each other about vertical pivot axes. This segmentation allows the arm to fold into a compact configuration for transport while maintaining the capability to extend to a long effective arm length for working operations, eliminating the need for a long running frame.
3Ease of operation
If the distance between two pairs of arms is increased to allow rearward swinging, then the outermost part of the arm can swing unimpededly rearwards, but the relative location of paths followed by front and rear rotors becomes displaced during curve driving, causing uncollected swath material
Solution Approach 1:
The arm structure is made dynamically adjustable between different configurations. The sectioned arm members can pivot between extended and retracted positions, allowing the rotary rake to adapt its width for both working and transport conditions without requiring a permanently long running frame.
4Length of moving object
If telescopic arms are used to reduce the distance from running frame to rotor, then the transport dimensions are reduced, but the ratio between retracted and extended effective arm length is limited to 1:1.5 to 1:2, reducing working width capability
Solution Approach 1:
The arm is divided into multiple sectioned parts that can pivot relative to each other about vertical pivot axes. This segmentation allows the arm to fold into a compact configuration for transport while maintaining the capability to extend to a long effective arm length for working operations, eliminating the need for a long running frame.
Data Source
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AI summary
The rotary rake (24) comprises an elongated running frame (2) designed at one end to be connected to a tractor. At least one arm (1) is fastened to the running frame (2) through a pivot joint so as to be pivotal about a pivot axis (3) so that the arm (1) is able to swing between a lowered working position and a raised transport position. The arm (1) is connected to a rotor (25) with a chassis (5), the arm (1) comprising a number of arm members which are pivotally interconnected through intermediate pivot joints the pivot axes of which are substantially vertical in the working position so that the rotor (25) is movable between an outermost position in which the arm (1) presents a longest effective arm length (A) and an innermost position in which the arm (1) presents a shortest effective arm length (a). The arm (1) comprises at least two elongated arm members (11, 13) and at least three of the said intermediate pivot joints, a first elongated arm member (11) being pivotal about a second pivot axis (10) relative to the running frame (2), a second elongated arm member (13) being pivotal relative to the first elongated arm member (11) about a third pivot axis (12), and the chassis (5) of the rotor being pivotal relative to the second elongated arm member (13) about a fourth pivot axis (14).