Crop Ear Lifter Support Bar with Localized Restraining Device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ear lifters for crops with support bars made of spring steel are prone to damage when encountering strong ground unevenness or stones, as the support bar can deflect downwards, increasing resistance and leading to severe damage.

Innovation Solution

The ear lifter features a support bar with a fastening portion, a middle portion, and a skid portion, where the middle portion is reinforced by a restraining device that enhances bending resistance in one direction while allowing elastic deformation in the other direction to follow ground unevenness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the support bar is made of spring steel to follow ground unevenness, then the adaptability to ground conditions is improved, but the reliability deteriorates because the support bar can be deflected downwards and severely damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to follow ground unevennessVSAvoidresistance to damage from downward deflection

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The support bar has different structural properties in different regions: the middle portion is made elastically deformable to follow ground unevenness, while the front end portion is reinforced with a restraining device to prevent excessive downward deflection and damage. This local differentiation of mechanical properties resolves the contradiction between adaptability and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The support bar is designed with dynamic characteristics allowing elastic deformation in the middle portion to adapt to varying ground conditions, while the front end has a restraining device that activates only when downward deflection exceeds a certain threshold, providing dynamic protection against damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the support bar is made rigid to prevent downward deflection, then the reliability is improved, but the adaptability deteriorates because it cannot follow ground unevenness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresistance to damage from downward deflectionVSAvoidability to follow ground unevenness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Different portions of the support bar have different rigidity characteristics. The middle portion maintains high flexibility for adapting to ground unevenness, while the front end portion is made more rigid through the restraining device to prevent damage, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If the support bar is made elastically deformable to follow ground unevenness, then the adaptability is improved, but the strength deteriorates because the support bar can be severely damaged when deflected into the ground

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to follow ground unevennessVSAvoidresistance to severe damage from ground penetration

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The restraining device is pre-installed on the front end of the support bar to provide protective reinforcement before any damage can occur. This preventive measure cushions the support bar against excessive downward deflection and potential severe damage while maintaining elastic deformability in the middle portion for ground adaptation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The support bar structure is differentiated locally: the middle portion remains elastically deformable for adapting to ground conditions, while the front end is strengthened with a restraining device to prevent severe damage, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

This design prevents the support bar from penetrating the ground, reducing damage and maintaining effective operation by allowing the skid portion to follow uneven ground while minimizing downward deflection.

Implementation Method 1

The support bar can be designed to be elastically deformable when bending stress is applied in the second bending direction in order to compensate for unevenness of the ground

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS12268126B2Ear lifter for crops

Publication Date: 2025.04.08 SMF HLDG GMBH

AI summary

Ear lifter for crops having a support bar, wherein the support bar extends in a major direction of extension and has a fastening portion, a middle portion and a skid portion arranged one after the other in the major direction of extension.