Liquid Trailer Drawbar Height Adjustment for Tractor Coupling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing trailers for transporting and spreading manure and sewage sludge lack safe and efficient mechanisms for liquid transport and application, particularly in ensuring secure attachment to tractors and flexible positioning of add-on parts.

Innovation Solution

A trailer design featuring a steel or fiber-reinforced plastic tank with a chassis, adjustable drawbar attachment via inclined hydraulic cylinders and a long multi-strip arrangement for flexible add-on part positioning, enabling secure tractor attachment and efficient liquid dispensing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed drawbar attachment is used, then the structure is simple, but the trailer cannot be securely attached to tractors of different heights

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustability to different tractor heightsVSAvoiddrawbar attachment mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The drawbar is made adjustable in height through multiple mounting positions on the tank, allowing it to adapt to different tractor heights. This dynamic adjustment capability resolves the contradiction by enabling versatility without requiring a completely complex mechanism, as the adjustability is achieved through pre-defined mounting points rather than continuous adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The drawbar mount is designed with multiple mounting positions that can accommodate various tractor types and heights. This universal design allows a single trailer to work with different towing vehicles, achieving adaptability while keeping the overall structure relatively simple through standardized mounting interfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If add-on parts are positioned at fixed locations, then the manufacturing is simple, but the positioning flexibility is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning flexibility of add-on partsVSAvoidmulti-strip arrangement configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The multi-strip arrangement is divided into multiple segments or strips with multiple mounting positions along their lengths. This segmentation allows add-on parts to be positioned at various locations while keeping each individual strip relatively simple to manufacture. The modular segmented structure achieves positioning flexibility without requiring complex custom manufacturing for each configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The multi-strip arrangement provides dynamically adjustable positioning for add-on parts through multiple mounting holes along each strip. This allows the position to be changed as needed while maintaining a relatively simple standardized strip design that can be manufactured once and used repeatedly with different positioning configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the drawbar is rigidly fixed, then the attachment is secure, but the trailer cannot accommodate different tractor configurations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompatibility with different tractorsVSAvoidattachment security
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The drawbar attachment system combines rigid fixation at selected positions with the ability to dynamically change mounting positions. The drawbar can be securely fixed to the tank at one of several predetermined positions, providing both attachment security and adaptability to different tractor configurations through position selection rather than through a complex adjustable mechanism during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 trailer ensures safe and flexible transport and application of liquids by providing a secure attachment system to tractors and allowing versatile positioning of add-on parts, enhancing operational efficiency and safety during liquid distribution.

Implementation Method 1

The drawbar is connected to the drawbar mount via inclined hydraulic cylinders

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Hydraulic Press

Data Source

PatentEP3971030B1Trailer for transporting liquids
Publication Date: 2023.09.06 ROHREN & PUMPENWERK BAUER GMBH
  • EP3971030B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3971030B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3971030B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a trailer for transporting liquids, in particular slurry, comprising a tank with a front end wall, a rear end wall and a shell surface connecting the two end walls, a drawbar receptacle on the tank and a drawbar that can be attached to the drawbar receptacle at different heights.