Steerable Wheel Arrangement for Land Roller Implement Turning Radius
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Solution Overview
Problem
Land roller implements have a large turning radius during transport due to fixed transport wheels, making them difficult to maneuver when towed, especially on roadways.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating steerable wheel assemblies that can pivot between a transport configuration and a field configuration, allowing the implement to maintain stability and reduce the turning radius by positioning steerable wheels forward of free-pivoting trailing wheels, enabling shorter turning paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If fixed transport wheels are used at the trailing end of wing sections, then the implement maintains stability during transport, but the turning radius becomes very large making it difficult to maneuver
Solution Approach 1:
The transport wheels are made steerable and pivotable between a transport orientation (perpendicular to wing assembly) and a field orientation (transverse to wing assembly), allowing the system to dynamically adapt its configuration based on whether it is being transported or working, thereby resolving the contradiction between stability during transport and maneuverability during positioning
2Stability of the object's composition
If steerable wheel assemblies are positioned at the trailing end of wing assemblies, then transport stability is maintained, but the turning radius remains large
Solution Approach 1:
The steerable wheels are positioned forward of the trailing end of the wing assemblies, utilizing the longitudinal dimension of the wing assembly to reduce the effective pivot radius. This forward positioning creates a shorter horizontal distance from the towing vehicle to the steerable wheels, thereby reducing the turning radius while maintaining transport stability through proper geometric arrangement
Data Source
AI summary
A land roller implement is towed by an agricultural tractor for levelling land. The implement has a main frame and two wing assemblies pivotal from a working field position extending laterally outward in opposing directions from the main frame to a transport position extending rearwardly from the main frame. The implement has a set of transport wheels for transporting the rollers of the implement spaced above the ground in the transport position, the wheels including: (i) two leading wheels on the main frame, (ii) two trailing wheels at the outer ends of wing assemblies, and (iii) two steerable wheels supported on the wing assemblies forwardly of the trailing wheels. The steerable wheels can be controllably pivoted by an actuator into a transport configuration oriented for forward rolling in transport, while the other wheels are freely pivotal to shorten the turning radius of the towed implement.