Agricultural Tool Safety Assembly With Offset Spring Buckling Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural tillage and seeding tools experience wear and unpredictable stresses due to buckling of elastically compressible elements, leading to friction and wear on safety mechanisms, which is not effectively managed by current designs.
Innovation Solution
The tool assembly features a parallel and radially offset longitudinal axis for the elastically compressible element relative to the rod axis, with asymmetrical seats and an assist stop to guide sliding, transforming friction into rolling friction and controlling buckling direction, thereby managing wear and friction effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the elastically compressible element is mounted on a rod with guidance, then the tool can retract safely when encountering obstacles, but the element buckles laterally during compression causing friction and wear on the safety mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces asymmetry by offsetting the longitudinal axis of the elastically compressible element from the longitudinal axis of the rod. This radial offset creates an intentional asymmetric geometry that prevents lateral buckling by ensuring the element compresses along a controlled path that maintains contact with the rod surface, thereby eliminating the harmful lateral forces that cause wear on bearing surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The rod serves as an intermediary element between the frame and the tool, providing guidance and support for the elastically compressible element. By positioning the element's axis radially offset from the rod's axis, the rod acts as a mediator that controls the compression path and prevents direct lateral contact between the element and surrounding structures, reducing friction and wear.
2Reliability
If the elastically compressible element is constantly held under pressure between front and rear seats, then the element remains ready for safety retraction, but wear occurs on the bearing surfaces of the spring, rod, and joints
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric positioning of the element axis relative to the rod axis changes the contact mechanics between the element and the rod. This geometry ensures that the element remains constantly engaged with the rod for safety readiness, but the offset prevents direct lateral loading on the bearing surfaces, significantly reducing wear and extending the service life of the stationary components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the system by introducing a radial offset between the element axis and rod axis. This parameter change transforms the compression behavior from a centered load path to an offset load path, maintaining constant contact pressure for safety readiness while eliminating the lateral components that cause wear on bearing surfaces.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the tool is designed to pivot around a main joint between extended and retracted positions, then the tool can adapt to obstacles, but unpredictable stresses are generated throughout the tool assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric offset between the element and rod axes creates a predictable stress path during tool retraction. Instead of allowing random lateral buckling that generates unpredictable stresses, the offset geometry guides the compression forces along a controlled asymmetric path, making the stress distribution predictable and manageable throughout the tool assembly.
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
This design minimizes wear and friction by anticipating and managing buckling conditions, extending the service life of the safety device and reducing mechanical stress.
Implementation Method 1
an elastically compressible element (7) which is mounted with guidance on or around a rod (8) and which is positioned between a front articulated joint (9) of this rod (8) with the frame (3) and a rear articulated joint (10) of this rod (8) with the tool (4)... the elastically compressible element (7) being constantly held in contact under pressure
Implementation Method 2
Sometimes, instead of continuing to decrease in length in a straight line, this element will bend laterally to one side or the other of its longitudinal axis. This phenomenon is called buckling. Buckling induces forces that are not parallel to the axis of the rod and generates friction and wear on the safety mechanism.
Implementation Method 3
The longitudinal axis (ALR) of the elastically compressible element (7) is parallel and radially offset with respect to the longitudinal axis (ALT) of the rod (8)... an assist stop to transform friction into rolling friction
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
The invention relates to an assembly of tools for agricultural machinery, the assembly comprising a tool connected to the chassis by means of a main pivot joint (5) and a mechanical safety device (6), the latter having an elongated element (7) which is elastically compressible about its longitudinal axis (ALR), mounted around a rod (8) and positioned between a front articulated joint (9) and a rear articulated joint (10), this tool being able to be moved by pivoting around the main pivot joint (5) with corresponding variable compression of the elastically compressible element (7) and this elastically compressible element (7) being held constantly in support under pressure between a front seat (11) associated with the front articulated joint (9) of the rod (8) and a rear seat (12) associated with its rear articulated joint (10).Assembly characterized in that the longitudinal axis (ALR) of the elastically compressible element (7) is parallel and radially offset with respect to the longitudinal axis (ALT) of the rod (8).