Central Row Divider Geometry for Closely Spaced Crop Rows

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Solution Overview

Problem

Agricultural harvesters face difficulty in guiding crop rows to respective base cutters when row spacing is close, as traditional crop dividers are too wide to fit between rows without plowing over the crop.

Innovation Solution

A central row divider with a main dividing portion that increases in width and height from front to rear, aligned between base cutters, and adjustable via actuators based on ground contour data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a traditional crop divider is used to guide crop rows to base cutters, then the crop rows can be directed properly, but the divider becomes too wide to fit between closely spaced rows without plowing over the crop

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecrop guidance capabilityVSAvoiddivider width

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The crop divider is divided into multiple segments that can move independently relative to each other. This segmentation allows the divider to adapt its width to fit between closely spaced crop rows while maintaining the capability to guide crops effectively to the base cutters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The crop divider employs movable segments that can dynamically adjust their positions based on the spacing between crop rows. This dynamic configuration enables the divider to be narrow enough to fit between closely spaced rows while retaining sufficient width to perform crop guidance functions when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the row spacing is decreased to increase harvesting capacity, then more rows can be processed, but it becomes increasingly difficult to guide crop rows to base cutters without plowing over them

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveharvesting capacityVSAvoidcrop guidance difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the crop divider into movable parts, the system can maintain effective crop guidance even when row spacing is reduced, thereby enabling increased harvesting capacity without sacrificing operational ease.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The physical parameters of the crop divider (specifically its width and configuration) are changed dynamically to match the reduced row spacing, allowing the system to process more rows while maintaining the ability to guide crops properly to the base cutters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20250331461A1Central row divider for an agricultural harvester

Publication Date: 2025.10.30 CNH IND BRASIL LTDA

AI summary

An agricultural harvester includes a forward frame, and first and second base cutters supported adjacent each other in a lateral direction on the forward frame. Additionally, the agricultural harvester includes a central row divider supported on the forward frame, with the central row divider being aligned at least partially between the first and second base cutters along the lateral direction and extending at least partially forward of the first and second base cutters along a fore-aft direction. The central row divider has a main dividing portion configured to direct crop towards the first and second base cutters, the main dividing portion both increasing in width in the lateral direction and in height in a vertical direction from proximate a front end of the main dividing portion to proximate a rear end of the main dividing portion along the fore-aft direction.