Rotary Rake Telescopic Arms Reduce Drivetrain Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rotary rakes experience high wear on the drive train and poor ground adaptation due to vibrations and changes in height when operating over uneven terrain, leading to inefficiencies in crop collection.
Innovation Solution
The design features a drive train with variable-length rotary joint shafts and a flexible arrangement of transfer cases, allowing for minimal change in joint shaft length when adjusting between working and transport positions, along with telescopic support arms for improved ground adaptation and reduced wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the rotary rake operates over uneven ground, then ground adaptation is required, but the change in height causes wear on the drive train
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the support arms telescopic rather than fixed-length, allowing the rotary rakes to dynamically adjust their position relative to the frame. This dynamic adjustment enables the system to adapt to uneven ground while maintaining optimal drive train alignment, reducing wear through continuous positional optimization rather than rigid fixed-position design
2Productivity
If the rotary rake is raised to transport position, then transport efficiency is improved, but the change in joint shaft length affects ground contour following
Solution Approach 1:
The telescopic support arms provide dynamic length adjustment capability, allowing the system to transition between transport position (for efficiency) and working position (for ground contour following). The variable length design enables the joint shafts to maintain optimal engagement with the drive train throughout the full range of motion, eliminating the compromise between transport efficiency and ground adaptation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of support arm length from fixed to variable, allowing the system to optimize performance for different operational modes. By adjusting the support arm length parameter, the system can maintain optimal drive train geometry whether in transport or working position, resolving the contradiction between transport efficiency and ground contour following
3Productivity
If high speeds are transmitted to the rotary rake, then productivity is improved, but vibrations cause significant wear on the drivetrain
Solution Approach 1:
The telescopic support arms provide dynamic damping capability, allowing the system to absorb and reduce vibrations transmitted from high-speed operation. The adjustable length mechanism can compensate for vibrational movements, maintaining stable drivetrain engagement even at high operational speeds, thus enabling high productivity without excessive wear
Data Source
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Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The invention relates to a rotary rake comprising a frame (12) extending in the direction of travel (FR), which can be coupled at the front via a hitch point (20) to an agricultural tractor and drive machine and has a chassis (22) for support on the ground, wherein a first rotary rake (14) and a second rotary rake (16) are arranged on both sides of the frame (12) in the transverse direction (QR), wherein a central axis (M1) of the first rotary rake (14) is arranged in the longitudinal direction (LR) of the frame (12) between the hitch point (20) and a central axis (M2) of the second rotary rake (16), wherein the first rotary rake (14) is mounted on the frame (12) via a first support arm (28) and the second rotary rake (16) via a second support arm (30), each pivotably mounted about a support arm pivot axis (S1, S2), wherein the gyratory rakes (14, 16) each of which are in operative connection with a drive train (32),which can be connected to an output of the tractor and drive machine via a power take-off point (36) by means of a drive cardan shaft (38), wherein the drive train (32) has a connecting cardan shaft (40) which connects a first distribution gearbox (42) to a second distribution gearbox (44) which are mounted on the frame (12) above the rotary rakes (14, 16), and wherein the first distribution gearbox (42) is connected to the first rotary rake (18) via a first rotary cardan shaft (32) and the second distribution gearbox (44) is connected to the second rotary rake (20) via a second rotary cardan shaft (36). The invention is characterized in that the second transfer case (44) is arranged longitudinally (LR) of the frame (12) between the hitch point (20) and the first transfer case (42), and the power take-off (PTO) connection point (36) is connected to the second transfer case (44) via a connecting driveshaft arrangement (34).