Wedge-Lock Drawbar Hitch Assembly for Consistent Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drawbar hitch assemblies for agricultural implements face challenges in maintaining consistent positioning between the agricultural vehicle and the implement, and are often mechanically complex, limiting their compatibility with drawbars of varying widths.
Innovation Solution
A drawbar hitch assembly featuring a first and second hitch plate with inwardly-facing ramps and locking wedges that are slidably engaged, allowing for secure coupling and easy release, with adjustable locking wedges to accommodate different drawbar widths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional hitch plates are used to couple to a drawbar, then the assembly can be secured to the drawbar, but consistent positioning and alignment between the agricultural vehicle and implement cannot be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The locking wedges are designed to be movable along the inclined surfaces of the hitch plates, allowing dynamic adjustment of the coupling position. This enables consistent positioning by permitting the wedges to settle into optimal locations while maintaining secure coupling, thereby improving alignment without requiring complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional hitch plates with fixed geometry are used, then the structure is simple, but compatibility with drawbars of different widths is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The locking wedges can move independently along the inclined surfaces, allowing the coupling assembly to adapt to different drawbar widths. The wedges adjust their positions to accommodate varying distances between drawbar edges, providing versatility across different implement configurations without requiring multiple specialized hitch plates.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling assembly is divided into separate components: two hitch plates with inclined surfaces and movable locking wedges. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, with the wedges adjusting to match different drawbar widths while the hitch plates provide the structural framework, thereby achieving compatibility without overall structural complexity.
3Reliability
If locking mechanisms with multiple components are used, then secure coupling is achieved, but the mechanical complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking function is merged into the interaction between the locking wedges and the inclined surfaces of the hitch plates. The inclined surfaces themselves provide the locking mechanism through geometry, eliminating the need for separate locking components such as pins, clips, or additional fasteners. This integration maintains coupling security while reducing overall mechanical complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking wedges automatically engage and lock into position through their interaction with the inclined surfaces when the hitch assembly is coupled to the drawbar. The geometry of the inclined surfaces causes the wedges to settle into locked positions without requiring external locking mechanisms or complex actuation systems, thereby achieving reliable coupling with simplified mechanics.
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 ensures consistent alignment and secure coupling of agricultural implements to the drawbar, accommodating various widths while simplifying the mechanical design for easier operation and broader compatibility.
Implementation Method 1
locking wedges are slidably engaged with one of the inwardly-facing ramps for movement between a locked position in which the locking wedges are adapted to cradle the drawbar therebetween
Data Source
AI summary
A drawbar hitch assembly for coupling to a drawbar to pull an agricultural implement includes a pair of locking wedges mounted between a first and a second hitch plate. Each locking wedge is slidably engaged with an inwardly-facing ramp of the second hitch plate for movement between a locked position adapted to cradle the drawbar therebetween and an unlocked position spaced apart and adapted to be released from the drawbar. A plurality of fasteners releasably couple the first and second hitch plates. The fasteners are tightened to move the second hitch plate in a first direction, thereby urging the locking wedges to the locked position to secure the drawbar hitch assembly to the drawbar. The fasteners may also be loosened to move the second hitch plate in an opposite second direction, thereby returning the locking wedges to the unlocked position to remove the drawbar hitch assembly from the drawbar.