Pivotable Snow Plough Blades With Short-Stroke Linkage Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing snow plough designs require long hydraulic cylinder strokes for large angular displacement of lateral blades, leading to inaccurate and complex control, and existing link mechanisms cause varying angular displacements based on blade position.
Innovation Solution
A snow plough design using two hydraulic cylinders with swing arms and connecting links allows for 180° angular displacement of lateral blades with short stroke lengths, ensuring uniform angular movement and precise control through parallel pivot axes and link mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a hydraulic cylinder with long stroke length is used to pivot the lateral plough blade through large angles, then the angular displacement of the lateral plough blade is improved, but the device complexity and control precision deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transforms the linear motion of the hydraulic cylinder into rotational motion of the lateral plough blade through a link mechanism. The hydraulic cylinder connects to the lateral support frame via a link that pivots about a pivot axis, converting the linear extension/retraction of the cylinder into angular displacement of the blade. This dimensional transformation allows achieving large angular displacement (approximately 180°) with a hydraulic cylinder of relatively short stroke length.
Solution Approach 2:
The link mechanism acts as an intermediary between the hydraulic cylinder and the lateral plough blade. The link connects the cylinder to the lateral support frame and transfers the motion from the cylinder to the blade through a pivot joint. This intermediary mechanism enables the conversion of linear motion to rotational motion and allows the system to achieve the desired angular displacement without requiring a long-stroke hydraulic cylinder.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a link mechanism is used to convert hydraulic cylinder motion to blade pivoting, then the angular displacement capability is improved, but the control precision deteriorates due to varying angular increments
Solution Approach 1:
The invention carefully selects and adjusts the geometric parameters of the link mechanism, including the length of the link, the position of the pivot axis, and the mounting points of the hydraulic cylinder. By optimizing these parameters, the mechanism achieves a more uniform relationship between the linear stroke of the hydraulic cylinder and the angular displacement of the lateral plough blade, improving control precision while maintaining the ability to achieve large angular displacement.
3Measurement precision
If two hydraulic cylinders arranged in series are used to pivot the lateral plough blade, then the control precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using two hydraulic cylinders arranged in series, the invention employs a single hydraulic cylinder connected through a link mechanism that acts as an intermediary. The link mechanism transforms the linear motion of one cylinder into the desired rotational motion of the lateral plough blade, eliminating the need for multiple cylinders while maintaining or improving control precision through proper geometric design.
Data Source
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AI summary
A snow plough mountable to a vehicle and comprising a central plough blade (10) fixed to a central support frame (11) and two lateral plough blades (20a, 20b) arranged on opposite sides thereof and fixed to a respective lateral support frame (21a, 21b) that is hinged to the central support frame. The lateral support frame (21a) of a first lateral plough blade is pivotable in relation to the central support frame by a hydraulic cylinder (24a), which is configured to act between the central support frame (11) and the lateral support frame (21a) through a swing arm (30), which is arranged between the central support frame and the hydraulic cylinder, and a connecting link (31), which is arranged between the lateral support frame and the swing arm. The hydraulic cylinder (24a) extends between a pivot joint (J5) on the lateral support frame (21a) and a pivot joint (J4) at an outer end of the swing arm (30).