Agricultural Chopper Linkage for Counter Knife and Shear Bar Coordination

Solution Overview

Problem

In agricultural harvesters, the shear bar in chopper assemblies does not lower when counter knives are placed in a disengaged mode, causing unnecessary resistance and chopping of crop material when no chopping is desired.

Innovation Solution

A linkage assembly connects the counter knives and shear bar, allowing them to be simultaneously moved between different positions, enabling easy adjustment and actuation, reducing the number of moving parts and space usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the shear bar is bolted in the chopper assembly and does not lower when counter knives are placed in disengaged mode, then the shear bar remains in position to provide structural support, but it unnecessarily impedes crop material flow and causes resistance that leads to unwanted chopping

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural supportVSAvoidcrop material flow

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The shear bar is changed from a static bolted component to a dynamic movable component that can be positioned in multiple locations. The linkage assembly enables the shear bar to move between a lowered position (when counter knives are disengaged) and an elevated position (when counter knives are engaged), allowing the system to adapt its structure based on operational mode.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control mechanisms for the counter knives and shear bar are merged into a single linkage assembly. This integration ensures that both components respond simultaneously to a single control input, eliminating the need for separate control systems and ensuring coordinated operation between the counter knives and shear bar.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the shear bar is moved independently from the counter knives, then each component can be optimized for its specific function, but the device complexity and number of moving parts increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent optimizationVSAvoidnumber of moving parts

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control mechanisms for the counter knives and shear bar are merged into a single linkage assembly. This integration ensures that both components respond simultaneously to a single control input, eliminating the need for separate control systems and ensuring coordinated operation between the counter knives and shear bar.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The linkage assembly serves multiple functions: it controls both the counter knives and shear bar, provides structural support, and enables coordinated movement of both components. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate mechanisms and simplifies the overall system architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the counter knives and shear bar are controlled separately, then each can be adjusted independently for optimal performance, but the ease of operation and actuation becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent adjustmentVSAvoidactuation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The control mechanisms for the counter knives and shear bar are merged into a single linkage assembly. This integration ensures that both components respond simultaneously to a single control input, eliminating the need for separate control systems and ensuring coordinated operation between the counter knives and shear bar.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10820519B2Agricultural chopper with linked counter knives and shear bar

Publication Date: 2020.11.03 BLUE LEAF I P INC

AI summary

An agricultural harvester includes a chassis; a threshing and separating assembly carried by the chassis; and a chopper assembly carried by the chassis that receives crop material from the threshing and separating assembly. The chopper assembly includes at least one movable chopping knife; a plurality of counter knives movable between a first knife position and a second knife position, the plurality of counter knives configured to cooperate with the at least one chopping knife to cut crop material when in the first knife position; a shear bar movable between a first bar position and a second bar position; and a linkage assembly connected to the plurality of counter knives and the shear bar such that the linkage assembly is selectively actuable to simultaneously move the plurality of counter knives and the shear bar between their respective first and second positions.