Corn Head Sweeper Device Curved Path Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing corn head attachment sweeper devices are not adjustable in the longitudinal direction during operation, making it difficult to adapt to changing harvesting situations and increasing the risk of collision with other components, which affects the efficiency of crop removal.

Innovation Solution

A motor-actuated sweeper device that moves along a curved path, guided by a multi-joint arrangement, allowing for precise adjustment without colliding with other components, enabling efficient crop removal during combine operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the sweeper device is manually adjusted using cotter pins on straight support arms, then the structure is simple, but the adjustability during operation is limited and conversion labor is significant

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadjustability during operationVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support arms are changed from fixed straight structures to pivotable multi-joint arrangements that can dynamically adjust their configuration. The ability to pivot about rotation axes allows the sweeper device to move along curved paths during adjustment, enabling continuous adaptability during combine operation rather than discrete manual adjustments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

A forced guiding action mechanism is introduced as an intermediary between the motor drive and the sweeper device. This guiding mechanism ensures that the motor-driven adjustment follows a predetermined curved path, mediating between the simple motor actuation and the complex requirement of collision-free positioning across varying crop conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the sweeper device is positioned close to the conveying device covers to improve crop removal, then the sweeping efficiency increases, but the risk of collision with components increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecrop removal efficiencyVSAvoidcollision risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The adjustment path is changed from a straight line to a curved trajectory. The curved path allows the sweeper device to navigate around obstacles and follow the contour of the conveying device covers, maintaining close proximity for effective crop removal while automatically avoiding collision zones through the geometric design of the path.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The forced guiding action pre-determines the adjustment path before adjustment occurs. By designing the curved path in advance to account for the positions of all components, the system preliminarily plans the safe trajectory, ensuring that the sweeper device will not collide with components during the adjustment process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the sweeper device is adjusted along a straight path, then the adjustment mechanism is simple, but the ability to follow crop surface variations is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptation to crop surfaceVSAvoidguiding mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The adjustment path is designed as a curved trajectory rather than a straight line. This curved path enables the sweeper device to follow the natural contours and height variations of the crop and conveying device surfaces, providing adaptability to actual harvesting conditions while the forced guiding mechanism manages the complexity of achieving this complex motion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

4Ease of operation

If manual adjustment with cotter pins is used, then the device structure is simple, but the adjustment time and driver distraction increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadjustment operation easeVSAvoidadjustment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The manual mechanical adjustment system using cotter pins is replaced with a motor-driven system. The motor actuation enables automatic adjustment without requiring the driver to manually manipulate hardware, significantly reducing adjustment time and eliminating driver distraction while the forced guiding mechanism ensures safe operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS8935908B2Corn head attachment with sweeper device

Publication Date: 2015.01.20 CARL GERINGHOFF GMBH & CO KG

AI summary

A corn head attachment has a sweeper device extending across a working width of the corn head attachment. The sweeper device is attached to the attachment frame by support arms pivotable about a first pivot. The sweeper device position relative to the frame is adjustable by a longitudinal adjusting device parallel to the travel direction and height-adjustable about the first pivots. The adjusting device moves the sweeper device along a curved path in a first direction away from a first position, in which a rotary axle of the sweeper device is at a leading area of a harvesting slot, into a second position above a rearward area of the harvesting slot and also moves the sweeper device in opposite direction. The adjustment of the sweeper device along the curved path is controlled by a forced guiding action to avoid collision of the sweeper device with other corn head attachment components.