Wheel Weight Handling Rollers With Internal Retention for Safer Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mounting and removing wheel weights on agricultural vehicles is challenging and time-consuming, often requiring heavy-lifting machinery, and there is a need for a safer and more convenient method.
Innovation Solution
A wheel weight handling device with a frame that includes load-bearing rollers and a retaining arrangement, featuring rotatable rollers and movable retaining members, allows for secure attachment and convenient mounting of wheel weights to agricultural vehicle wheels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If heavy-lifting machinery such as loading forks or cranes are used to mount wheel weights, then the wheel weight can be lifted and placed on the wheel, but the process remains challenging and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a handling device as an intermediary tool between the heavy-lifting machinery and the wheel weight. This device includes a frame with load-bearing rollers that engage the wheel weight, and a retaining arrangement that secures it during mounting operations, making the process easier and faster
Solution Approach 2:
The handling device is divided into functional segments: a frame structure, load-bearing rollers for engagement, and a retaining arrangement with movable retaining members. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently, improving overall operation ease and reducing mounting time
2Reliability
If the retaining member is moved to the retaining position to limit wheel weight movement, then safety is improved, but the complexity of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining members are designed to be movable between a retracted mounting position and an extended retaining position. This dynamic capability allows the device to adapt during operation: the retaining members are retracted during insertion to avoid interference, then extended to limit wheel weight movement and improve safety
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator mechanism is pre-configured to automatically move the retaining members to the appropriate positions during the mounting sequence. This preliminary arrangement of the actuation system ensures that safety measures are activated at the right moment without requiring complex manual intervention, balancing safety with device simplicity
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
Facilitates safe and efficient mounting of heavy wheel weights by reducing the need for additional support structures and minimizing movement during the process, enhancing user safety and reducing production costs.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one load bearing roller being rotatable about a rotation axis... bringing the load bearing roller into contact with the wall of the passage
Data Source
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AI summary
For use with a wheel weight (200, Fig. 4) having a central axial passage (203, Fig. 4), a wheel weight handling device (100) has a frame comprising at least one load bearing roller (1, 3) for engaging an inner surface of the passage and a retaining arrangement for limiting movement of a wheel weight mounted to the device. The retaining arrangement comprises an inner retaining member (13, 15) movable between a retracted, mounting position and an extended, retaining position. Moving the retaining member from its mounting position to its retaining position may increase the amount by which the at least one retaining member projects outwardly from the at least one load bearing roller (1, 3). In the retaining position, the inner retaining member is positioned for engagement with an inner side surface (202a, Fig. 4) of the wheel weight. The retaining arrangement includes an actuator mechanism (17, 18) for moving the at least one inner retaining member between the mounting and retaining positions.