V-Rake Tooth Support Device Stress Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wheel rake teeth experience premature breakage due to repetitive stress from uneven terrain and heavy materials, leading to increased maintenance costs and reduced productivity.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising individual supports detachably mounted to wheel rake teeth, which are coupled via elongated coupler openings to distribute stress among adjacent teeth, encircling the hub of the wheel rake and providing flexibility to absorb impact stresses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If wheel rake teeth are used to rake heavy stalk material and operate on uneven terrain, then the raking capability and productivity are improved, but the teeth experience increased repetitive stress leading to premature breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The support system is divided into multiple individual supports, each mounted on separate teeth. Each support acts as an independent stress-absorbing element, allowing the system to segment and distribute mechanical stresses across multiple attachment points rather than concentrating them on single teeth.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple individual supports are combined to form a continuous circular support structure around the wheel hub. This merged structure creates a unified stress-distribution system that spans across multiple teeth, effectively sharing the load and reducing peak stresses on individual teeth.
2Ease of manufacture
If the rake tooth design is optimized for light material like wet hay, then the tooth structure remains simple and cost-effective, but it cannot handle heavier stalk material without excessive stress and breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure serves as an intermediary element between the tooth and the heavy stalk material. It absorbs and distributes the extreme forces generated when raking heavy material, protecting the original tooth design from excessive stress while maintaining the simplicity of the original tooth structure.
3Ease of repair
If individual teeth are replaced when broken, then the replacement process is straightforward, but the time and labor required reduce overall productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure provides beforehand cushioning and protection to the teeth, reducing the frequency of breakage events. By preemptively distributing and absorbing stresses, the system prevents teeth from reaching their breakage point, thereby reducing the need for frequent replacements and minimizing downtime.
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 solution effectively extends the lifespan of wheel rake teeth by distributing stress, reducing the frequency of breakage and enhancing the operational efficiency of the raking device, especially in challenging terrains and with heavy materials.
Implementation Method 1
the plurality of individual supports, when detachably mounted to the plurality of wheel rake teeth and coupled to adjacent individual supports, encircle a hub of a wheel rake at a specific radius of the hub
Data Source
AI summary
A device and related system is disclosed for detachably mounting to the teeth of a wheel rake to support each individual tooth preventing premature tooth breakage. The device and system for mitigating stress on an individual wheel rake tooth includes a plurality of individual supports detachably mounted to two or more wheel rake teeth. The individual supports are detachably coupled to two adjacent individual supports via elongated openings at each end of the individual support. When detachably mounted to the wheel rake teeth at a radius inside the tip of the teeth, the supports act to distribute the stress on an individual wheel rake tooth among adjacent wheel rake teeth as the tooth impacts an object.