Movable Centering Means for Tractor Chassis Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern agricultural working machines, such as tractors, face challenges in precise alignment of components transverse to the longitudinal direction and difficulty in dismantling individual chassis components without disassembling the entire chassis, due to fixed installation and tolerance compensation methods.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of a centering means that can be moved from a centering position to a dismantling position, allowing for precise alignment of assemblies and enabling individual components to be dismantled without complete chassis disassembly, using a centering means with a through hole and connecting profile for axial displacement and connection to a pulling device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the chassis is constructed with fixed interconnected assemblies, then structural rigidity is improved, but ease of maintenance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechassis rigidityVSAvoidcomponent dismantling ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The centering means is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to be displaced between a centering position (for assembly) and a dismantling position (for maintenance). This dynamic capability enables individual components to be removed without dismantling the entire chassis, resolving the contradiction between structural rigidity and ease of maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The centering means can be extracted or displaced from the assembled chassis structure to a dismantling position, allowing individual assemblies to be removed for maintenance while the rest of the chassis remains intact. This extraction capability maintains chassis rigidity during operation while enabling easy maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of manufacture

If standardized centering means are used, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but alignment precision for complex components deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidalignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The centering function is segmented into two separate centering means (first and second parts) that can be independently optimized. This allows standardized, cost-effective components to be used while achieving precise alignment through the combined action of both parts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges two centering functions into a single centering means structure, where the first part provides longitudinal tolerance compensation and the second part provides transverse alignment. This combination achieves high precision alignment while using standardized, cost-effective components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3293080B1Agricultural work machine
Publication Date: 2019.09.25 CLAAS TRACTOR
  • EP3293080B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2b
  • EP3293080B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

An agricultural machine, in particular a tractor, comprises a chassis (10) which has at least a first assembly (18) and a second assembly (20), wherein each assembly (18, 20, 26) comprises at least one component (12, 14, 16, 22, 24), and wherein the chassis (10) has at least one centering means (30) which, in an assembled state of the chassis (10), is arranged in a centering position (32) between two assemblies (18, 20, 26) arranged next to each other, wherein in the centering position (32) the centering means (30) is received at least partially in the assemblies (18, 20, 26) arranged next to each other in recesses (42) formed for this purpose. According to the invention, the centering means (30) can be moved from the centering position (32) to a disassembly position (56) in the assembled state of the chassis (10), in which the centering means (30) is only received in one of the assemblies (18, 20, 26).