Tined Implement Mounting Apparatus for Front Loader

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing farm implements attached to tractors via three-point hitch lack flexibility and ease of manipulation, often requiring multiple specialized tools for various tasks, which hinders safety, flexibility, and efficiency in farming operations.

Innovation Solution

A mounting apparatus with a bracket between the front loader arms and a quick-coupler mechanism, allowing for rotational coupling with control link arms and lower arms, combined with a tined implement featuring selectively re-configurable tines, enabling direct attachment to a front-end loader for versatile use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If implements are attached to the rear of a tractor via three-point hitch, then the implement can be pulled behind the tractor, but the implement cannot be easily manipulated once coupled

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manipulationVSAvoidattachment configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional attachment configuration by moving the implement from rear-tractor attachment to front-loader attachment. This allows the implement to be manipulated vertically, horizontally, and rotationally using the front loader's control mechanisms, directly resolving the manipulation limitation of rear three-point hitch attachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a mounting apparatus as an intermediary between the front loader arms and the implement. This mounting apparatus includes a bracket with four mounting points that rotationally couples to control link arms and lower arms, serving as a mediator that enables easy manipulation while maintaining secure attachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If fixed specialized hardware is used for very defined uses, then the implement is simple and reliable, but multiple implements are required for different tasks

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveversatilityVSAvoidimplement configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the implement configuration changeable through selectively re-configurable tines. The tines can be positioned in different locations and orientations, allowing a single implement to adapt to various tasks such as lifting hay or moving grass bales, thereby achieving versatility without requiring multiple fixed implements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal implement that can perform multiple functions through its re-configurable tine system. The same basic implement structure with adjustable tines can handle different agricultural tasks, eliminating the need for multiple specialized implements and improving versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS7726052B2Farm implement

Publication Date: 2010.06.01 ZETTEL DANIEL M

AI summary

A tined implement coupled to front arms of a front end loader includes a hitch quick-coupler mechanism, a body, at least one tine and a plurality of arm coupling brackets. The body is coupled to the quick-coupler mechanism and defines a plurality of apertures each having tine bearing surfaces. The at least one tine is coupled to the body and positioned within one of the tine bearing surfaces. The plurality of arm coupling brackets are coupled to the quick-coupler mechanism. The brackets are rotatably coupled to the front arms of the front end loader.