Transmission-Mounted Frame Stiffening for Agricultural Balers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural baling machines face challenges with high weight and potential damage from excessive power transmission, requiring additional frame strengthening components and risking tractor-baling machine combinations due to high kinetic energy and force transmission.
Innovation Solution
The transmission is used as a frame stiffening element, reducing the need for additional components, and the drawbar assembly design allows for accessible driveline components and adjustable connection points for various towing vehicles, enhancing stability and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If additional frame strengthening components are added to handle high power transmission, then the strength and stability of the frame is improved, but the overall weight of the baler increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission mounting member is designed to serve dual purposes: it mechanically supports the transmission while simultaneously functioning as a frame stiffening element. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate strengthening components, thereby maintaining frame strength without adding unnecessary weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the transmission support function and the frame stiffening function into a single integrated mounting member. By merging these two functions, the design avoids adding separate strengthening components, thus resolving the contradiction between frame strength and overall weight.
2Ease of operation
If the drawbar assembly is designed with spaced members for accessibility, then maintenance access to driveline components is improved, but the structural stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The drawbar assembly is segmented into spaced-apart members (upper and lower drawbar members) that create openings for accessing driveline components. This segmentation provides maintenance accessibility while the members remain connected to the frame to maintain overall structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The drawbar assembly has different properties in different regions: the members are spaced apart in regions where accessibility is needed, while maintaining connections and structural integrity in regions where stability is critical. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between accessibility and stability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the transmission mounting member has multiple connection points at different vertical positions, then adaptability to different towing vehicles is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission mounting member is designed with multiple connection points at different vertical positions to accommodate various towing vehicle configurations. This universal design allows a single mounting member to serve multiple functions and work with different vehicles, improving adaptability without requiring multiple specialized components.
Data Source
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AI summary
An agricultural baling machine (10; 310) comprising: a frame (17; 317); a connection point (354) for attaching to a towing vehicle (11); a plunger (23) in a bale-forming chamber (22); a driveline for taking power from the towing vehicle (11) and causing reciprocal rectilinear motion of the plunger (23) in the bale-forming chamber (22), wherein the driveline comprises a transmission (38, 538); and a drawbar assembly (314) that provides a mechanical link between the connection point (354) and the frame (317). The drawbar assembly (314) comprises: a transmission mounting member (580) that provides a mechanical connection between the transmission (538) and the frame (317).