Agricultural Suspension Unit With Radial Spring Grooves

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Solution Overview

Problem

Agricultural implements with fixed axles face damage and breakdowns due to varying soil hardness and collisions, leading to increased maintenance and operational costs, as existing rubber mounting solutions are costly and require frequent replacement.

Innovation Solution

A suspension unit with a bearing unit featuring an inner and outer sleeve, a friction-reducing member, and a spring element fixed between radially outward and inward grooves, allowing for selective replacement and reducing the need for vulcanization, thereby enhancing durability and reducing production costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If rubber mounting is used to cushion between tilling parts and frame, then damage from soil variations and rock collisions is reduced, but production cost increases due to expensive vulcanization process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection from breakdownsVSAvoidproduction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The suspension unit is divided into separate replaceable components: a bearing unit with inner and outer sleeves, a friction-reducing member, and a spring element. This segmentation eliminates the need for vulcanization by using mechanical assembly, reducing production costs while maintaining the cushioning function against soil variations and rock collisions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the material state from vulcanized rubber (permanent bonding) to a mechanical spring element system. The spring element provides elastic cushioning through controlled deformation, achieving the same protective function without the expensive vulcanization process, thereby improving ease of manufacture while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If rubber body is vulcanized in place in the bearing outer sleeve, then cushioning function is achieved, but service life is reduced as both rubber body and bearing must be replaced when vulcanization becomes loose

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecushioning functionVSAvoidreplacement frequency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The design enables selective replacement of worn components. When the spring element wears out, only the spring element needs to be replaced, not the entire bearing assembly. This extends service life and reduces maintenance costs by recovering and reusing the durable bearing unit and holder.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Device complexity

If fixed unsprung axles are used in larger agricultural implements, then structural simplicity is maintained, but damage and breakdowns increase due to strong stresses from soil variations and rock collisions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidresistance to damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention transitions from fixed unsprung axles to a dynamic suspension system with a spring element that can compress and expand. This dynamic component absorbs shocks from soil variations and rock collisions, protecting the implement while maintaining reasonable structural complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The spring element is pre-installed in the holder to provide cushioning before any impact occurs. This beforehand cushioning prepares the system to absorb upcoming shocks from uneven terrain and rock collisions, preventing damage before it happens while keeping the overall structure relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 suspension unit provides improved strength, service life, and cost-effectiveness by allowing for easier maintenance and replacement of components, while eliminating the need for expensive vulcanization, thus enhancing the operational safety and longevity of agricultural implements.

Implementation Method 1

a spring element, arranged radially outside the outer sleeve, and a holder which forms a spring chamber in which the spring element is accommodated

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a friction-reducing member arranged between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP2888491B1Suspension unit for agricultural implement, agricultural implement, method of manufacturing a suspension unit and use of a bearing unit

Publication Date: 2018.06.13 VAEDERSTAD HOLDING AB

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AI summary

The present document shows a suspension unit for an agricultural implement (1), comprising a bearing unit (110). The bearing unit contains an inner sleeve (1101) and an outer sleeve (1102) which is rotatable relative to said inner sleeve, and a friction-reducing member (1103) arranged between the inner sleeve (1101) and the outer sleeve (1102). The suspension unit further comprises a spring element (108), arranged radially outside the outer sleeve (1102); and a holder which forms a spring chamber (S) in which the spring element (108) is accommodated. The spring element (108) is fixed in the spring chamber (S) between a circumferential, radially outwardly open groove (Go), which is integrated with the outer sleeve (1102), and a radially inwardly open groove (Gi), which surrounds the outer sleeve (1102).