Rotatable Side Frame Corn Harvester Crop Divider Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing corn harvesters face challenges in efficiently managing crop dividers and stalk lifters during the harvesting process, particularly in adjusting angles and positions to accommodate varying crop heights without manual intervention.
Innovation Solution
A corn harvester design featuring rotatable side frames with biasing members and adjustable crop dividers that automatically change positions based on the harvester's configuration, allowing for adaptive engagement and collection of crops without operator input, utilizing gas struts to bias dividers into raised or lowered positions in response to frame movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If crop dividers are manually adjusted to accommodate varying crop heights, then harvesting efficiency is improved, but operator workload and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The crop divider system automatically adjusts its own position and angle in response to frame movements and crop conditions, eliminating the need for manual operator intervention. The biasing members and rotatable mechanisms enable the dividers to self-regulate during harvesting operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The crop dividers are designed with rotatable connections and adjustable angles, allowing them to dynamically change their orientation and position throughout the harvesting process. This dynamic adjustment capability enables adaptation to varying crop heights and harvesting conditions without manual intervention.
2Device complexity
If crop dividers are positioned at fixed angles, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to varying crop heights deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The crop dividers incorporate rotatable connections and adjustable angle mechanisms that allow them to change from fixed to dynamic positioning. This enables the system to adapt to varying crop heights while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through the use of basic rotational joints and biasing members.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the angular parameter of the crop dividers through rotational movement, allowing the same physical structure to operate effectively at multiple angles. This parameter adjustment capability provides adaptability without requiring multiple fixed-position components.
3Productivity
If side frames are kept in deployed position, then crop engagement is improved, but transportability and storage deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The side frames are designed with rotatable connections that allow them to transition between deployed and stowed positions. This dynamic capability enables the harvester to maintain optimal crop engagement during field operations while facilitating easy transport and storage when the frames are rotated to the stowed position.
Solution Approach 2:
The harvester is divided into modular components including the main frame and detachable side frames with crop dividers. This segmentation allows the side frames to be independently positioned or removed, improving both operational effectiveness during harvesting and ease of transport and storage when not in use.
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 and adaptive harvesting by automatically adjusting crop dividers and stalk lifters to accommodate different crop heights, reducing operator workload and improving harvesting efficiency by ensuring optimal engagement and collection of crops without manual adjustment.
Implementation Method 1
A first biasing member is configured to bias the first crop divider into the raised position
Data Source
AI summary
A harvester includes a main frame, first side frame, and a second side frame. The first and second side frames are rotatable about the main frame between a deployed position and a stowed position. A first crop divider is rotatable with respect to the first side frame to change an angle between the first crop divider and the ground. A first biasing member biases the first crop divider into the raised position. A second crop divider is rotatable with respect to the second side frame to change an angle between the second crop divider and the ground. A second biasing member biases the second crop divider into the raised position. During movement of the first and second side frames into the stowed position, the first and second crop dividers are moved into the lowered position against the biasing force of the respective biasing member.