Flexible Wing Locking System for Agricultural Implements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wide agricultural implements with winged extensions often experience unintended lowering over time, especially when raised for transport or servicing, due to stress and strain on hydraulic actuators, leading to potential contact with the ground and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical link with tension members is fitted to attachment points between the central portion and wing extensions, using pins and clevis-type supports to securely hold the wings in elevated positions, reducing the load on actuators and preventing drooping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If hydraulic cylinders are used to raise and hold wings in elevated positions, then the wings can be raised for transport and servicing, but over time the wings slowly decline or droop from the raised position due to stress and strain on the actuators
Solution Approach 1:
A mechanical link assembly acts as an intermediary between the wing and the hydraulic actuator. This link assembly includes a link that connects to the wing and a tension member (such as a cable or chain) that connects the link to the actuator. The tension member transmits force while allowing for slight movements, thereby preventing direct stress and strain transmission to the actuator that would cause drooping over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the mechanical parameters of the connection between the wing and actuator. By introducing a mechanical link assembly with a tension member, the system transforms the direct rigid connection into a flexible connection that can accommodate small movements and stress variations without compromising the held position, thus preventing actuator strain.
2Stability of the object's composition
If hydraulic actuators continuously maintain wings in raised position, then wings remain elevated, but actuators experience stress and strain leading to potential failure
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical link assembly serves as a mediator that protects the actuator from direct stress. The link assembly with its tension member absorbs and distributes the forces required to hold the wing in position, preventing these forces from being transmitted directly to the actuator and thereby preserving actuator strength and durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical link assembly is designed to automatically maintain the wing in the raised position through its own structural characteristics. The tension member creates a self-balancing system where the geometry and tension of the link assembly naturally hold the wing up without requiring continuous active force from the actuator, thus reducing actuator stress.
Data Source
AI summary
A tension member arrangement is disclosed that can be mounted between a central portion of an agricultural implement and a wing. The wing is configured to be raised and lowered by an actuator. The tension member is mounted to support structures on the central portion of the implement and on the wing once the wing is raised, to maintain the wing in the raised position. Stress may then be relieved from the actuator without the wing descending from the raised position. The tension member may be completely removed from the implement or may remain attached and employed only when needed to maintain the wing in the raised position.