Wheel Support Structure With Pivoting Linkage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wheel support structures for agricultural implements face challenges in maintaining uniform load distribution over irregular ground surfaces without sacrificing crop clearance, especially in applications requiring large tires or high weight capacity, leading to space and cost issues.
Innovation Solution
A transverse beam connected to the frame for rocking, with a link structure that constrains wheel arms to move oppositely, ensuring balanced load distribution between two transversely spaced wheels, and spring members to reduce frame size and weight, allowing for side-by-side wheel placement and sufficient under-frame clearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a walking beam arrangement is used to allow relative vertical movement of wheels over irregular ground surfaces, then the wheels can maintain ground contact, but the structure consumes space and increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel support structure is divided into separate wheel arms that can move independently, rather than using a single walking beam structure. Each wheel arm is connected to the frame and can rock independently, allowing the wheels to move relative to each other while maintaining simpler individual components
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a transverse dimension to the wheel support structure by using a transverse beam that connects the wheel arms laterally. This allows the wheel arms to move vertically independently while being laterally constrained, achieving ground contact maintenance without the complexity of a traditional walking beam
2Length of moving object
If larger diameter tires are used to provide ground offset for high crop clearance, then crop clearance is improved, but the structure consumes more space and increases cost
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel arms are designed to rock dynamically about their axes, allowing the wheels to move vertically to maintain ground contact. This dynamic adjustment enables the use of smaller diameter tires while still achieving the necessary ground offset for crop clearance applications
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters of the wheel support system by allowing variable vertical positions of the wheels through the rocking motion of the wheel arms. This enables adequate ground offset to be achieved through positional adjustment rather than requiring larger tire diameters
3Strength
If the implement size increases to handle increased weight and loads, then the weight capacity is improved, but the support structure becomes larger and more expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The transverse beam merges the support functions for both wheel arms into a single structural element. This beam connects both wheel arms and provides lateral support, allowing the structure to handle increased loads while maintaining a compact design that doesn't require proportionally larger support components
Solution Approach 2:
The transverse beam serves multiple functions: it connects the wheel arms laterally, provides structural support for increased loads, and enables the rocking motion necessary for ground contact maintenance. This multi-functionality allows the structure to handle higher weights without requiring additional specialized support components
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
This solution maintains uniform load distribution, reduces frame size and weight, and provides necessary clearance for row crop applications, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing hardware impedance, while allowing for effective sidedressing in tall crops.
Implementation Method 1
a transverse beam connected to the frame for rocking about a beam axis generally transverse to the arm axes
Implementation Method 2
A link structure is operably connecting the first and second ends to the first and second wheel arms for constraining the wheel arms to move generally in opposite vertical directions
Implementation Method 3
Spring members may be interposed between the ends of the pivoting linkage and the individual wheel arms to lower frame impact forces and reduce the size and weight of the frame structure
Data Source
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AI summary
A wheel support structure includes two individual wheel arms (42, 44) tied together by a linkage (52, 54, 52', 54') that pivots about a fore-and-aft extending axis (112, 114, 124) at a location above the wheels (18w) and generally above the plane of the implement frame (12). The linkage constrains the wheel arms (42, 44) to pivot in opposite vertical directions as the implement (10) moves over irregular ground surfaces to improve weight distribution on the wheels (18w). Spring structure (152, 154) may be interposed between the ends of the pivoting linkage (52, 54, 52', 54') and the individual wheel arms (42, 44) to lower frame impact forces. The structure (52, 54, 52', 54') allows two wheels (18w) to be placed side-by-side with their axes (18a) generally aligned and reduces under-frame hardware to improve crop and soil and trash flow.