Cam Reel With Adjustable Bat Path For Harvesting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing harvesting header reel designs lack the ability to customize the cam path for reel bats, limiting the aggressiveness and adaptability of the reel behavior, which can be beneficial in various harvesting conditions.
Innovation Solution
A cam reel design where the reel bats can move towards and away from the reel shaft, with a complex bat path enabled by a cam system that allows for adjustable positions, providing a more aggressive and customizable sweeping action by pivoting the bat members around their pivot axis, rather than just rotating them.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the reel bats are rotatably mounted to allow selective rotation during reel rotation, then the fingers can follow a more complex path into and through crop material, but the reel behavior becomes less aggressive and customizable
Solution Approach 1:
The reel bat mounting system is made dynamic by allowing the reel bats to pivot about a pivot axis in addition to their rotation during reel rotation. This dynamic capability enables the cam mechanism to selectively control the pivot angle, allowing the fingers to follow customized complex paths that can be adjusted for different crop conditions while maintaining aggressive sweeping behavior when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the bat path by introducing a complex bat path that deviates from a simple circular path. The cam mechanism controls the pivot angle parameter, which directly affects the path complexity and aggressiveness of the reel behavior, allowing optimization for different harvesting conditions.
2Productivity
If the reel bats move in a simple circular path, then the structure is simpler, but the reel cannot provide customized aggressive or gentle sweeping behavior
Solution Approach 1:
The cam mechanism serves as an intermediary between the simple circular motion of the reel and the complex customized path of the fingers. The cam converts the uniform rotational motion into a complex bat path by controlling the pivot angle, enabling customized aggressive or gentle sweeping behavior without requiring a completely complex mechanical structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds another dimension to the bat motion by introducing the pivot angle dimension. Instead of simple circular motion in one plane, the reel bats now move in a complex three-dimensional path that includes radial movement toward and away from the reel shaft, creating customized sweeping patterns for improved crop engagement.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the cam mechanism is fixed in position, then the structure is simpler, but the reel cannot be adapted to different harvesting conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The cam mechanism is made adjustable between fixed positions, allowing the reel to be adapted to different harvesting conditions. The cam can be positioned at different angular locations around the reel shaft, changing the timing and characteristics of the bat path complexity, thereby providing versatility for various crop types and conditions without requiring continuous adjustment mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A cam reel for use on a harvesting header which includes a plurality of reel bats disposed evenly around the reel shaft, each attached to radial arms extending outwardly from the reel shaft by bat arms pivotally attached to the radial anus such that the bat member itself can pivot about a pivot axis around the end of the radial arms. The reel ends of the radial anus define a circular bat path and the reel bats once attached can be pivoted about the pivot axis, parallel to the reel axis, in a bat pivot path to move both inside and outside of the radius of the circular bat path. The reel can be attached to various header assemblies using interchangeable end kits. A header using the reel is also disclosed.