Skid Alignment System for Agricultural Applicator Precision Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for mounting skid-mounted agricultural product application equipment on applicators are cumbersome and lack precision, requiring manual alignment of large and heavy equipment on uneven terrain, which poses safety and operational challenges.
Innovation Solution
An alignment system utilizing vertically extending frame and skid mounting surfaces with laterally-spaced alignment features and blocks to align the skid with the frame along a vertical or horizontal mounting plane, facilitating precise and secure mounting of the equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual alignment methods are used for mounting skid-mounted equipment, then flexibility in equipment handling is maintained, but alignment precision and operational safety deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces alignment features (protrusions and recesses) as intermediary elements between the skid and frame that automatically guide precise alignment during the mounting process. These features act as mediators that translate the rough manual positioning into precise alignment without requiring complex alignment tools or procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment system is designed to be self-aligning through the interaction of complementary alignment features on the skid and frame. The protrusions and recesses automatically engage and guide the skid into proper alignment position during mounting, eliminating the need for external alignment devices or complex manual adjustment procedures.
2Reliability
If heavy skid-mounted equipment is manually guided during mounting, then equipment interchangeability is maintained, but operational safety and worker burden worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment features serve as intermediary mechanical guides that reduce the manual guidance burden during mounting. By providing physical constraints through protrusions and recesses, the system mediates between the heavy equipment weight and the operators, enabling safer handling while maintaining equipment interchangeability.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment features are pre-configured on both the skid and frame before mounting operations begin. This preliminary arrangement of alignment elements ensures that when the skid is positioned on the frame, alignment occurs automatically without requiring complex real-time manual adjustments, thereby improving safety and ease of operation.
3Manufacturing precision
If precise alignment is achieved through manual guidance, then mounting accuracy is improved, but time consumption and labor intensity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The self-aligning mechanism through complementary protrusions and recesses allows the mounting system to automatically achieve precise alignment without requiring time-consuming manual measurement and adjustment procedures. This self-service alignment dramatically reduces both time consumption and labor intensity while maintaining high mounting accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment features act as intermediary mechanical guides that instantly establish precise alignment relationships during mounting. Rather than requiring operators to perform time-intensive manual alignment tasks, these intermediary features automatically enforce accurate positioning, thereby improving productivity without sacrificing mounting precision.
Data Source
AI summary
An equipment skid is aligned on the frame of an agricultural product applicator defining substantially mutually perpendicular fore-aft, transverse and vertical axes of the frame, by utilizing an alignment system having a vertically extending frame mounting surface defined by the frame, and a vertically extending skid mounting surface defined by the skid. The frame and skid mounting surfaces are adapted for mating connection with one another to substantially align the skid with the frame along a substantially vertical mounting plane. A pair of laterally-spaced, juxtaposed, vertically extending skid alignment features are defined by the frame mounting surface, and a skid-mounted alignment block extending from the skid mounting surface is adapted for insertion between and into operative engagement with the pair of skid alignment features for aligning the skid with the frame on the vertical mounting plane.