Crop Lifter Bracket with Adjustable Finger Angle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional crop lifters face challenges in mounting on headers with varying angles and in adapting to different crop conditions, often requiring multiple mounting brackets and failing to effectively lift downed crop stalks to the cutting knife.
Innovation Solution
A crop lifter apparatus with a mounting bracket and adjustable lifting finger mechanism, featuring a cylindrical groove and lock bolt system, allowing infinite angle adjustment and lockable positioning to accommodate various header angles and crop conditions, and optional adjustable length for enhanced lifting capability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional crop lifters are mounted on headers with varying angles, then mounting compatibility is improved, but device complexity increases due to requiring multiple mounting brackets
Solution Approach 1:
The crop lifter is designed with a universal mounting system that can accommodate headers with different angles. The mounting bracket includes a slot that allows the crop lifter to be positioned at various angles relative to the header, eliminating the need for multiple specialized mounting brackets for different header brands and angles.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting bracket incorporates a slot that enables dynamic adjustment of the crop lifter's angle relative to the header. This dynamic positioning capability allows the same mounting bracket to work with headers of varying angles, providing adaptability without increasing the number of different bracket types needed.
2Device complexity
If fixed angle crop lifters are used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different header angles and crop conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting bracket incorporates a slot that enables dynamic adjustment of the crop lifter's angle relative to the header. This dynamic positioning capability allows the same mounting bracket to work with headers of varying angles, providing adaptability without increasing the number of different bracket types needed.
3Ease of operation
If conventional fixed position lifting fingers are used, then ease of operation is improved, but effectiveness in lifting downed crop stalks deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting finger is made flexible or spring-loaded, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position and angle as it contacts downed crop stalks. This flexibility enables the lifting finger to effectively engage with and lift crop that is lying close to the ground, improving crop gathering efficiency while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The lifting finger's physical state is changed from rigid to flexible or spring-loaded, allowing it to change its angular position and contact force based on the position of the crop. This parameter change enables the lifting finger to adapt to downed crop stalks and improve lifting effectiveness.
4Manufacturing precision
If non-adjustable crop lifters are mounted on bent mounting brackets, then manufacturing precision is improved, but operational reliability deteriorates due to incorrect angles
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting bracket incorporates a slot that enables dynamic adjustment of the crop lifter's angle relative to the header. This dynamic positioning capability allows the operator to compensate for bent or improperly angled brackets, ensuring the crop lifter functions correctly even when manufacturing precision is compromised.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system allows adjustment of the crop lifter's angular position to compensate for deviations in bracket manufacturing or installation. By changing the operational angle parameter, the system maintains functional reliability even when the physical bracket is bent or incorrectly positioned.
Data Source
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AI summary
A crop lifter apparatus has a bracket for attachment to a header guard finger. A cylindrical groove in a front portion of the mounting bracket has an axis perpendicular to a travel direction and a lock bolt hole is defined through the mounting bracket at the groove. The rear of a finger support member has a cylindrical wall engaged in the groove, and defines a cylindrical lock aperture with an axis coincidental with the axis of the groove. A slot in the rear of the support member is oriented perpendicular to the axis of the lock aperture. A lock cylinder is engaged in the lock aperture and a lock bolt extends through the lock bolt hole and the slot and into the lock cylinder and is tightened to secure the support member to the mounting bracket at a selected finger angle. A length of the lifting finger may be adjustable.