Flexing Row Crop Header With Floating Wings for Terrace Back-Slopes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing row crop headers struggle to navigate the steep back-slopes of farmable terraces near large river basins, compromising harvesting efficiency due to their inability to fit or contour effectively, often requiring operators to hang the header over the edge or use smaller, specialized equipment.

Innovation Solution

A row crop header with a center section and independently pivotal side wing sections, equipped with hydraulic and spring float systems, allows the side wing sections to contour to the field surface, ensuring consistent harvesting height and preventing digging into the terrain, while maintaining efficient crop transfer and processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a typical header frame is used for harvesting row crops, then harvesting efficiency is improved through larger equipment size, but the header cannot fit into or contour to the back-slopes of farmable terraces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveharvesting efficiencyVSAvoidability to contour to terrace back-slopes

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The header frame is divided into a center section and two side wing sections that can independently pivot relative to each other. This segmentation allows the side wing sections to contour to the back-slopes of terraces while the center section maintains harvesting position, resolving the contradiction between large header size for efficiency and adaptability to terraced terrain.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The side wing sections are made dynamically adjustable through pivotal connections with the center section, allowing them to change position and angle in response to terrain variations. This dynamic capability enables the header to maintain both its large size for efficiency and its ability to adapt to terrace back-slopes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Strength

If the header is made rigid to maintain structural strength, then structural integrity is improved, but the header cannot adapt to varied terrain contours

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidability to contour to field surface

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the header into a rigid center section and independently articulated side wing sections, the design maintains structural integrity where needed while allowing flexibility at the joints. The rigid center section provides strength for harvesting operations, while the articulated side sections adapt to terrain contours.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The header employs flexible linkages and pivotal connections between sections that allow the structure to bend and adapt to terrain while maintaining overall rigidity. This flexible connection system enables the header to contour to field surfaces without compromising the structural strength of individual sections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Adaptability or versatility

If the side wing sections are made independently pivotal to contour to terrain, then adaptability to varied terrain is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to independently pivot side wing sectionsVSAvoidcomplexity of linkage system

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The independent pivotal capability of side wing sections is achieved through segmented construction with separate linkage systems for each side. While this increases adaptability to varied terrain, it also increases device complexity through additional links and pivot points that must be coordinated.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

Enables efficient harvesting on varied terrains by allowing the header to adapt to the field contour, reducing mechanical stress and improving crop collection efficiency, even on challenging terraces with steep slopes.

Implementation Method 1

A float system is operatively coupled between the center section and the side wing sections to float the side wing sections above a surface of the field

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Hydraulic Press

Implementation Method 2

A float system is operatively coupled between the center section and the side wing sections to float the side wing sections above a surface of the field

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring elasticity: Spring

Data Source

PatentUS20250344639A1Flexing header with float system

Publication Date: 2025.11.13 MACDON INDS

AI summary

A row crop header for harvesting crop in a field comprises a header frame having a center section and a pair of side wing sections operatively coupled to the center section. An upper link is pivotally coupled between the center section and each one of the side wing sections adjacent the top portion thereof. A lower link is pivotally coupled between the center section and each one of the side wing sections adjacent the bottom portion thereof. The upper links and lower links provide independent pivotal movement of the side wing sections relative to the center section to contour to the surface of the field of crops to be harvested. An automatic float system is operatively coupled between the center section and each one of the side wing sections to adjust the weight of the side wing sections on the surface of the field and allow the side wing sections to float relative to the center section.