Agricultural Implement Arms Lateral Displacement for Headland Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural rakes face delays and inefficiencies during headland manoeuvres due to the need to raise and lower arms to avoid disturbing windrowed crop material, requiring excessive lift and time, which can damage the windrow and prolong operations.
Innovation Solution
An agricultural implement with a control system that detects headland positions, laterally displaces rotors away from the main chassis to achieve quicker ground clearance, reducing the extent of arm lift and enabling faster return to the working position, using sensors and position determination systems to automate the process based on windrow height.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the arms are raised to a high headland position to clear the windrow, then the ground clearance is improved, but the time taken for headland manoeuvre increases and the arms require excessive lift
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a lateral displacement dimension by moving the rotor away from the main chassis member in the headland position. This lateral movement creates additional ground clearance without requiring excessive vertical lift, allowing the arms to clear the windrow more efficiently while reducing the time needed for headland manoeuvres.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic positioning system where the rotor can be laterally displaced relative to the main chassis member based on operational requirements. The control system adjusts the rotor position dynamically - maintaining it close to the chassis during working position and displacing it laterally during headland manoeuvres, optimizing ground clearance when needed while minimizing time loss.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the arms are raised further to lift tines clear of the ground, then the windrow damage is prevented, but the operational efficiency decreases due to repeated raising and lowering
Solution Approach 1:
By adding lateral displacement as an additional degree of freedom, the system can achieve sufficient ground clearance to prevent windrow damage without requiring excessive vertical arm lift. This reduces the frequency and extent of arm raising and lowering operations, thereby maintaining higher operational efficiency while protecting the windrow.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the positional parameter of the rotor by displacing it laterally away from the main chassis member during headland manoeuvres. This parameter change creates the necessary ground clearance to prevent windrow damage while avoiding the need for repeated excessive arm lifting, thus preserving operational efficiency.
3Device complexity
If the rotor is positioned close to the main chassis member, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ground clearance during headland manoeuvres is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dynamically adjustable rotor positioning system that can laterally displace the rotor relative to the main chassis member. This dynamic mechanism provides the necessary ground clearance during headland manoeuvres while maintaining a simple compact configuration during normal operation, balancing device complexity with functional requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
An agricultural implement having an elongated main chassis member, ground engaging wheels for supporting the main chassis member on the ground and at least one set of two arms, each arm being provided with at least one working implement and each arm being pivotably connected to the main chassis member and adapted to be moved between a working position, a headland position and a transport position. In the headland position, an inner working implement of the at least one set of arms is displaced laterally away from the main chassis member.