Agricultural Wheel Guard Position Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural applicator wheel protective frames fail to maintain consistent height and inclination relative to the ground due to suspension height variations, leading to potential damage to crops and increased risk of collision with the ground.
Innovation Solution
A protective frame position control system that includes bearings aligned with the wheel's center of rotation and a position guide with a vertically oriented geometry, allowing the frame to maintain its position relative to the ground regardless of suspension height changes, using a pin and sliding element within a cooperative guide to absorb vertical displacement and restrict rotational freedom.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the protective frame is coupled to the suspension system (upper or lower cast), then the frame can be mounted on the vehicle structure, but the height and inclination of the frame relative to the ground vary with suspension movement, causing crop damage and component collision
Solution Approach 1:
A position guide mechanism acts as an intermediary between the protective frame and the suspension system. The guide comprises a guide body mounted on the suspension and a guide element on the frame that moves within the guide body, constraining the frame's movement to maintain constant height and inclination relative to the ground while allowing suspension articulation
Solution Approach 2:
The position guide system allows dynamic adjustment of the protective frame's position relative to the suspension components. The guide element can move along a controlled path within the guide body, enabling the frame to adapt to suspension movement while maintaining stable operational parameters relative to the ground
Data Source
AI summary
A protective frame position control system includes a wheel protective frame for a working vehicle. The wheel protective frame is mounted on a wheel via at least one bearing aligned with a center of rotation of the wheel, and a position guide 55 is associable with an upper cast of a suspension via a pin 56 to prevent rotation of the wheel protective frame and also maintain a position of the wheel protective frame at any height of the suspension of the working vehicle. The position guide comprises includes a geometry oriented vertically and compatible with a path travelled by a first end of a damping element, which is associated with the center of rotation of the wheel.