Forage Harvester Discharge Elbow Frame Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Commercially available discharge elbows for forage harvesters are heavy due to massive sheet metal configurations, leading to wear issues and poor maintenance accessibility, which increases costs and weight without significant weight reduction.

Innovation Solution

A frame-shaped or lattice-shaped support assembly with locking elements provides mechanical stability while reducing weight, allowing for thinner locking elements and easier maintenance access, enabling longer discharge elbows without significant weight increase.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If massive sheet metal components are used to provide mechanical stability, then stability is improved, but weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical stabilityVSAvoidweight

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The discharge elbow is divided into two functional parts: a frame-shaped support assembly providing mechanical stability and locking elements providing wear protection. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently - the frame can be lightweight while the locking elements provide necessary protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The wear protection function is extracted from the main structural components. Instead of making the entire sheet metal structure wear-resistant, separate locking elements are added only where wear occurs, allowing the main frame to remain lightweight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If sheet metal wear plates are attached to the inside of outer walls, then wear protection is improved, but maintenance accessibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewear protectionVSAvoidmaintenance accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of attaching wear plates to the interior surfaces where they are hard to reach, the locking elements are positioned on the exterior or easily accessible portions of the frame. This inversion of the traditional approach allows maintenance personnel to easily remove and replace wear elements without disassembling the entire structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Length of stationary object

If discharge elbow length is increased to provide side spacing, then side spacing is improved, but weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedischarge elbow lengthVSAvoidweight

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of stationary objectVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The frame-shaped support assembly uses thin-walled members arranged in a geometric configuration that provides sufficient mechanical stability without the bulk of traditional massive structures. This allows the discharge elbow to be extended in length while maintaining acceptable weight levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentUS7354235B2Discharge elbow for a forage harvester

Publication Date: 2008.04.08 DEERE & CO

AI summary

A discharge elbow for a forage harvester. The discharge elbow includes a frame-shaped support assembly and at least one locking element attached to the inside of the support assembly.