Work Vehicle Coupler Holding Portion and Cap Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge lies in effectively managing the detachment and attachment of a grass collecting section from a riding grass mowing machine while ensuring the harness separation arrangement maintains water resistance and dust resistance, particularly when the grass collecting section is detachable from the machine body.
Innovation Solution
A work vehicle design featuring a coupler holding portion that can hold and cover either the implement side coupler or the machine body side coupler, with a cap attached to prevent water and dust adhesion, allowing for smooth detachment and attachment while minimizing the risk of cap loss and simplifying the arrangement by reducing the number of couplers needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If the grass collecting section is configured to be detachable from the machine body, then maintenance operation becomes easier, but the harness separation arrangement becomes more complex and water/dust resistance is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The coupler is inserted into the coupler holding portion, with the cap covering the coupler. This nested arrangement integrates multiple protective and holding functions into a compact structure, reducing the overall complexity of the harness separation system while maintaining detachability for maintenance operations
Solution Approach 2:
The cap acts as an intermediary element between the coupler and the external environment. It provides water and dust resistance while allowing the coupler to remain accessible for connection and disconnection operations, thus simplifying the harness separation arrangement without compromising protection
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the cap is not attached to the coupler holding portion, then the coupler is exposed to water and dust, but the cap may be lost or misplaced
Solution Approach 1:
The cap is nested within the coupler holding portion when not in use, ensuring it cannot be lost or misplaced. This nested arrangement simultaneously protects the coupler from water and dust while maintaining secure retention of the cap
Solution Approach 2:
The coupler holding portion automatically retains the cap through its structural design, eliminating the need for additional fastening mechanisms. The cap self-secures in the holding portion, preventing loss while maintaining environmental protection
3Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple caps are provided for implement side coupler and machine body side coupler, then protection is improved, but the number of parts increases and management becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The single cap is designed to be universally compatible with both the implement side coupler and the machine body side coupler. This multi-functional cap reduces the total number of parts while ensuring consistent protection for both couplers, simplifying inventory management and assembly operations
Data Source
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AI summary
A coupler holding portion (35) configured to hold and cover a coupler (31) in association with insertion thereto of the coupler (31) and a cap (36) attachable to coupler (29, 31) and attachable to the coupler holding portion (35) are provided. A working state can be set in which the coupler (31) of an implement side harness (30) and the coupler (29) of a machine body side harness (28) are connected and the cap (36) is attached to the coupler holding portion (35). A non-working state can be set in which the coupler (31) of the implement side harness (30) is attached to the coupler holding portion (35) and the cap (36) is attached to the coupler (29) of the machine body side harness (28).