Three-Point Hitch Cleaning via Acceleration Pulse
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Solution Overview
Problem
Three-point hitches on agricultural tractors face the issue of unwanted earth residues adhering to tillage tools, which fall off during movement, causing dirty paths and potential damage when colliding with the ground.
Innovation Solution
A method that activates a hydraulic lifting mechanism to produce a short-stroke acceleration pulse, deliberately flinging off earth residues by interrupting the lowering movement of the lower linkages, coordinated by a control unit, and optionally includes a shaking or vibrating movement to enhance cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the accessory equipment is lifted after tilling, then the tillage tools are separated from the soil, but earth residues adhere to the tools and fall off during movement causing dirty paths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanical vibration by generating oscillating movements of the lower linkages through the lifting mechanism. This vibration causes earth residues adhering to the tillage tools to be shaken off before the equipment is fully lifted and transported, thereby preventing dirty paths and eliminating the harmful effect of falling earth residues.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the lifting mechanism is activated to remove earth residues, then cleaning effectiveness increases, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit automatically detects when the accessory equipment has been lifted from the soil and autonomously activates the lifting mechanism to generate the necessary oscillating movements for removing earth residues. This self-service approach eliminates the need for manual operator intervention, maintaining cleaning effectiveness while avoiding the complexity of additional control interfaces or manual操作流程.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the lowering movement is interrupted to produce acceleration pulse, then earth residues are flung off effectively, but the risk of accessory equipment colliding with ground increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a short-stroke lowering movement that is interrupted before the accessory equipment reaches the ground. This partial action generates sufficient acceleration pulse to effectively fling off earth residues while maintaining a safety margin that prevents collision with the ground, thereby resolving the contradiction between cleaning effectiveness and safety.
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
Effectively removes earth residues from tillage tools, improving cleanliness and preventing damage by ensuring the accessory equipment does not collide with the ground, with the cleaning mode activated automatically or manually based on soil conditions and tractor position.
Implementation Method 1
the lifting mechanism is activated at the instigation of a control unit in such a way that an acceleration pulse directed towards the ground is produced in the region of the coupling elements by interrupting a short-stroke lowering movement
Implementation Method 2
The acceleration pulse produced as a result of the interruption, and therefore sudden deceleration, of the lowering movement results in a deliberate and effective flinging-off of earth residues
Implementation Method 3
a working chamber, designed as a piston chamber, of the at least one hydraulic cylinder can be acted upon by pressurized hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic system of the agricultural tractor
Implementation Method 4
The lowering movement is realized passively under the force of the gravity acting on the lower linkages or the accessory equipment located thereon
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling a three-point hitch, having left and right lower linkages with each pivotably linked to a tractor-side support structure in a first end region and each having a coupling element for attaching accessory equipment in a second end region, includes pivoting the lower linkages via a lifting mechanism which lifts and lowers the coupling elements with respect to the ground, and activating the lifting mechanism in a cleaning mode via a control unit such that an acceleration pulse directed towards the ground is produced in the region of the coupling elements by interrupting a short-stroke lowering movement generated at the lower linkages.