Corn head of a forage harvester

The displacement mechanism for maize dentures in forage harvesters reduces damage risk to eviscerating elements by allowing them to move out of the way of obstacles, enhancing durability and operational safety with sensor feedback.

DE102016104278B4Active Publication Date: 2025-07-31CLAAS SAULGAU GMBH
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Patent Information

Application Number
DE102016104278
Authority / Receiving Office
DE · DE
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2016-03-09
Publication Date
2025-07-31
Estimated Expiration
2036-03-09

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing maize dentures in forage harvesters face a high risk of damage to laterally outer eviscerating elements due to collisions with foreign bodies or grooves, particularly as the working width increases.

Method used

The laterally outer eviscerating elements are designed to be displaceable from a working position into a protective position via links and joints, allowing them to avoid collisions and minimize damage, with optional overload and restoring elements for controlled movement and sensor feedback for driver notification.

Benefits of technology

This design significantly reduces the risk of damage to the eviscerating elements by enabling controlled displacement and providing real-time feedback, ensuring the elements remain functional and operational safety.

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Abstract

A maize header (1) for a forage harvester for harvesting stalk-like crops, comprising a plurality of mowing and intake elements (2) for separating the crop in a substantially horizontal direction, and comprising guide elements (5) which, viewed in a harvesting direction or in a direction of travel, are positioned in front of the mowing and intake elements (2) and guide the crop to be harvested in the direction of the mowing and intake elements (2), wherein laterally outer guide elements (5a) arranged on both sides of the maize header (1) limit a working width of the maize header (1) and are displaceable from a working position opposite to the harvesting direction or the direction of travel into a protective position, characterized in that each of the laterally outer guide elements (5a) is fastened to a support structure (3) of the maize header (1) via guide rods (6, 7) and is displaced from the working position into the protective position via the guide rods (6, 7). is movable and has two handlebars (6, 7),which form a four-bar kinematics, is attached to the supporting structure (3) of the maize header (1).
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Claims

[1] Maize header (1) for a forage harvester for harvesting stalk-like crops, with several mowing and intake elements (2) for separating the crop in a substantially horizontal direction, and with guide elements (5) which are positioned in front of the mowing and intake elements (2) when viewed in a harvesting direction or in a direction of travel and guide the crop to be harvested in the direction of the mowing and intake elements (2), wherein laterally outer guide elements (5a) arranged on both sides of the maize header (1) limit a working width of the maize header (1) and can be moved from a working position into a protective position opposite to the harvesting direction or the direction of travel, characterized bythat each of the laterally outer guide elements (5a) is fastened to a supporting structure (3) of the maize header (1) via links (6, 7) and can be moved from the working position into the protective position via the links (6, 7) and is fastened to the supporting structure (3) of the maize header (1) via two links (6, 7) each, which form a four-bar kinematics. [2] Corn head (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that each of the laterally outer guiding elements (5a) is fastened to the supporting structure (3) via a first, front link (6) as seen in the direction of harvesting or direction of travel and via a second, rear link (7) as seen in the direction of harvesting or direction of travel, wherein each of the links (6, 7) engages in an articulated manner via a first joint (8, 9) on a holding element (13a) for the respective laterally outer guiding element (5a) via a second joint (10, 11) on the supporting structure (3) of the maize header (1). [3] Corn head (1) according to claim 2, characterized bythat the joints (8, 9, 10, 11) of the control arms (6, 7) are arranged in such a way and / or the lengths of the control arms (6, 7) are designed in such a way that when the respective laterally outer guide element (5a) is displaced there is no risk of collision thereof with a mowing and intake element (2). [4] Corn head (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that at least one, preferably each, laterally outer guide element (5a) is assigned an overload element (12) which, when a force acting on the respective guide element (5a) is greater than a limit value, releases the displacement of the respective laterally outer guide element (5a) from the working position into the protective position. [5] Corn head (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that at least one, preferably each, laterally outer guide element (5a) is assigned a return element which presses the respective guide element (5a) into the working position. [6] Corn head (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that at least one, preferably each, laterally outer guide element (5a) is assigned a sensor which detects the displacement of the respective guide element (5a) out of its working position.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • harvesting attachment with a stalk lifter auger

    DE10317469A1

  • Self-propelled sugarcane-harvesting machine

    DE3213848A1

  • Maize harvester

    EP0131853B1