Adjustable Swathing Unit for Mower Crop Width Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mowers can only configure to produce either a narrow swath or wide spreading of cut crop, unable to adjust swath width based on crop quantity or moisture content, leading to inefficiencies in drying and collection.
Innovation Solution
A mower with an adjustable swathing unit featuring a housing with guide plates that can be adjusted to control the swath width, combined with a downwards rotating auger that collects and ejects cut crop efficiently, reducing energy consumption and allowing for flexible swath formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the guide plate is fixed to produce a narrow swath, then collection efficiency is improved, but adaptability to different crop quantities and drying requirements deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The guide plate is made adjustable rather than fixed, allowing it to be repositioned to create different swath widths. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the swathing unit to adapt to varying crop quantities and drying requirements while maintaining efficient collection when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide plate serves multiple functions: it can be positioned to create narrow swaths for efficient collection, adjusted to create wider swaths for rapid drying, or removed entirely for wide spreading. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction between collection efficiency and adaptability.
2Loss of time
If the guide plate is removed for wide spreading, then drying speed is improved, but collection efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The guide plate's position is made variable, allowing operators to switch between narrow swath configuration (for efficient collection) and wide spreading configuration (for rapid drying) based on operational requirements. This dynamic reconfigurability resolves the contradiction between drying speed and collection efficiency.
3Productivity
If the auger rotates upwards to lift crop over the axis, then swath formation is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of rotating the auger upwards to lift crop over the axis (conventional design), the auger is designed to rotate downwards, allowing crop to pass beneath it. This inverted rotation direction reduces energy consumption while still achieving effective swath formation through the adjustable guide plate mechanism.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The adjustable swathing unit enhances the efficiency of crop collection and drying by allowing for customizable swath widths, reducing energy usage and simplifying operation, while maintaining energy efficiency even during wide spreading configurations.
Implementation Method 1
The auger is located behind the conditioning unit and has a helical flighting that transports the cut crop towards one end of the mower to form a swath
Data Source
AI summary
A mower has a plurality of rotary cutters for cutting a crop and a swathing unit for forming a cut crop into a swath. In some embodiments, the swathing unit includes an auger and a housing that extends around at least part of the auger and provides a swathing aperture through which cut crop material is ejected to form a swath. In some embodiments, the housing includes at least one guide plate that can be adjusted to adjust the width W of the swathing aperture.