Work Vehicle Accessory Mount Cover Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Work vehicles' components, such as hydraulic cylinders and arms, are prone to contamination from dirty environments, leading to reduced maintenance intervals and increased costs due to exposure during operations like plowing and earth moving.

Innovation Solution

An accessory mounting system with a cover assembly and deflector positioned laterally outward from the vehicle's body, which blocks debris and contaminants from reaching lubricated components, including pivot joints, hydraulic cylinders, and hoses, thereby reducing contamination and maintenance needs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If lubricated members are exposed to dirty environments during operation, then the work vehicle can perform agricultural and construction operations, but dirt and contaminants collect on the lubricated members reducing maintenance intervals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to perform agricultural and construction operationsVSAvoidmaintenance interval duration

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A cover assembly is introduced as an intermediary component between the dirty external environment and the lubricated members. The cover assembly includes a cover that positions laterally outward from the mount, creating a protective barrier that prevents dirt and contaminants from directly contacting the lubricated members while still allowing the implement to perform its agricultural and construction operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The cover assembly functions as a protective shell that encloses or shields the lubricated members from the external environment. The cover is positioned to extend laterally outward, forming a physical barrier that protects the members without interfering with their operational movement, thereby extending maintenance intervals while maintaining operational versatility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Ease of operation

If lubricated members are exposed to contaminants, then operational flexibility is maintained, but maintenance costs increase due to reduced maintenance intervals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational flexibilityVSAvoidmaintenance cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The cover assembly serves as a protective intermediary that allows the lubricated members to maintain their operational flexibility while being shielded from contaminants. This protective barrier prevents dirt accumulation that would otherwise require frequent maintenance, thereby reducing maintenance costs without compromising operational ease

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11306459B2Accessory mounting system for a work vehicle

Publication Date: 2022.04.19 BLUE LEAF I P INC

AI summary

An accessory mounting system for a work vehicle includes a first mount extending from a lateral side of a body of the work vehicle, in which the first mount is configured to couple to a first end of a rotatable component to rotatably couple the rotatable component to the body of the work vehicle. Further, the accessory mounting system for includes a cover assembly having a cover, in which the cover assembly is coupled to the lateral side of the body of the work vehicle, and at least a portion of the cover is positioned laterally outward from the first mount such that the first end of the rotatable component is disposed between the lateral side of the body of the work vehicle and the portion of the cover while the first end of the rotatable component is coupled to the first mount.