Support Wheel Unit Locking Mechanism for Agricultural Harvesters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Caster-controlled support wheels in prior art designs face issues with uncontrolled rotation when raised, leading to potential collisions and damage, as they must be freely rotatable regardless of position, including when not in contact with the ground.
Innovation Solution
A support wheel unit with a locking device that restricts the angular range of rotation as it transitions between road and field positions, allowing controlled rotation when in contact with the ground and preventing uncontrolled rotation when raised, using guide elements and locking elements to progressively lock the wheel as it is lifted.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the support wheel is freely rotatable about its vertical axis of rotation regardless of position, then the support wheel can follow the harvester's steering movement and prevent skidding when in contact with the ground, but the support wheel can oscillate freely and collide with other objects when raised above the ground
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device dynamically changes the rotational constraint of the support wheel based on its vertical position. When the support wheel is in the lowered road position, the locking device is disengaged allowing free rotation for steering followability. When raised to the field position, the locking device engages to prevent rotation and eliminate collision risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking device acts as an intermediary mechanism between the support wheel and the frame. It selectively engages or disengages based on the vertical position of the support wheel, mediating between the conflicting requirements of free rotation for steering and rotation prevention for safety.
2Reliability
If the support wheel is locked to prevent rotation when raised, then collision risk is eliminated, but the support wheel cannot follow steering movements when in contact with the ground
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the locking state based on vertical position. The locking device is designed to be engaged when the support wheel is raised (field position) to prevent collision, and disengaged when lowered (road position) to enable steering followability through free rotation.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism operates periodically based on the cyclical movement of the support wheel between raised and lowered positions. As the support wheel transitions between field and road positions, the locking device correspondingly engages and disengages, creating a periodic pattern of locked and free states.
3Device complexity
If the support wheel can rotate freely when raised during lifting, then no additional locking mechanism is needed, but the angular range of rotation cannot be restricted to prevent collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device serves as an intermediary component that selectively restricts rotation based on vertical position. It is designed to engage with the guide elements only when the support wheel is in the raised position, adding minimal complexity while effectively preventing collisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking device is designed to engage automatically based on the vertical position of the support wheel. As the support wheel is raised during lifting, the locking device self-activates to restrict rotation, and when lowered, it self-disengages to allow free rotation, eliminating the need for external control mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution reduces the risk of damage by ensuring the support wheel can rotate effectively when traveling over roads while preventing collisions by locking the wheel when in its raised field position, thereby minimizing the risk of contact with other objects.
Implementation Method 1
a lifting device, in particular in the form of a hydraulic or electro-hydraulic piston-cylinder unit, by means of which the support wheel can be moved, in particular raised and lowered
Data Source
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AI summary
The present application comprises a support wheel unit (2) for a self-propelled harvesting machine (1), in particular a combine harvester, comprising a frame (3), a support wheel (4) and a lifting device (5), wherein the support wheel unit (2) can be connected to a superior harvesting machine (1) by means of the frame (3) in a force-transmitting manner, wherein the support wheel (4) can be moved between a raised field position and a lowered road position by means of the lifting device (5), wherein the support wheel (4) is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation (7) at least when in its road position within an angular range (6) relative to the frame (3).In order to produce a support wheel unit by means of which a risk of damage during the lifting of the support wheel is reduced, a locking device (8) is proposed according to the invention, by means of which the support wheel (4) can be guided at least temporarily during its transfer between the field position and the road position in such a way that the rotatability of the support wheel (4) about its axis of rotation (7) when the support wheel (4) is in its road position is at least restricted.