Adjustable Ear Dam for Corn Header Grain Loss Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing corn headers lack adjustable and cost-effective crop saving attachments that can accommodate various types of crop material, leading to grain loss and cumbersome maintenance.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable multipart ear dam with a base member, a movably attached upper member, and slideably associated flaps that remain at a constant position relative to the gathering chains, allowing for varying crop saving capability through actuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fixed ear dam designs are used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to various crop materials deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The ear dam is designed with movable components including an adjustable upper section that can be raised or lowered, and flaps that can pivot independently. This dynamic structure allows the ear dam to adapt its configuration to different crop materials and harvesting conditions, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural simplicity by introducing controlled mobility rather than fixed rigidity.
Solution Approach 2:
The ear dam is divided into multiple independent sections: a base section, an adjustable upper section, and separate flaps. Each segment can be positioned independently to optimize performance for different crop types. This segmentation allows complex adaptability to be achieved through simple, modular components rather than a monolithic complex structure.
2Loss of substance
If adjustable ear dam components are added, then crop saving capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable upper section and pivoting flaps create a dynamic barrier system that can be positioned to optimize grain retention. The flaps can pivot to different angles and the upper section can be raised or lowered to create varying barrier heights, improving crop saving capability through motion-controlled configuration rather than multiple fixed structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable upper section and flaps are integrated into a single coordinated system where the flaps are attached to the movable upper section. This merging of components reduces the overall complexity compared to having separate adjustable mechanisms for each element, while still achieving enhanced grain loss prevention through their coordinated motion.
3Ease of operation
If flaps are made movable to maintain constant position, then operational flexibility is improved, but mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flaps are designed to pivot on hinge points attached to the movable upper section, allowing them to maintain a constant positional relationship with the gathering chains despite the upper section's movement. This dynamic hinge mechanism provides operational flexibility with a simple rotational degree of freedom rather than complex positioning systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The flap mechanism uses the motion of the upper section itself to drive the flaps' positioning. As the upper section moves, the flaps automatically pivot to maintain their optimal angle relative to the gathering chains, eliminating the need for separate control mechanisms and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining operational flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
An agricultural header connectable to an agricultural vehicle including a frame, at least one row unit connected to the frame and including at least one gathering chain, at least one crop dividing member connected to the frame, and a crop saving attachment supported by the at least one crop dividing member and being adjustable between a lowered position and a raised position. The crop saving attachment including a base member fixedly attached to the at least one crop dividing member, an upper member movably attached to the base member and configured for adjusting between the lowered and raised positions, and a pair of flaps supported by the base member and slideably associated with the upper member so that a resting position of the pair of flaps remains substantially unchanged as the upper member is adjusted.