Draper Belt System Pivot Joint Gap Elimination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Harvesters face challenges in increasing crop capacity due to the loss of crops through gaps between rollers at the pivot joint of traditional draper belt systems, which also lead to increased maintenance and production costs.
Innovation Solution
A draper belt system where a single draper belt extends over rollers sharing the rotational axis with the pivot joint, eliminating the gap between separate belt assemblies and allowing for flexible harvesting without crop loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If two or more separate belt and roller assemblies are used to make the header wider and flexible, then the header can accommodate uneven terrain and increase crop capacity, but gaps appear between the rollers at the pivot joint causing crop loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two separate belt and roller assemblies into a single integrated assembly where the draper belt continuously spans across the pivot joint. The belt is configured to wrap around rollers on both sides of the pivot joint without interruption, eliminating the gap that causes crop loss while maintaining header flexibility through the pivot joint's ability to rotate.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate belt assemblies are used with a pivot joint between them, then the header can be wider for greater crop capacity, but the gap between rollers requires complex frame constructions and additional parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple belt assemblies into one continuous draper belt that spans the entire header width including across the pivot joint. This eliminates the need for separate belt assemblies and their associated complex frame constructions, reducing the number of parts while maintaining the ability to accommodate uneven terrain through the pivot joint's rotational capability.
3Productivity
If the draper belt is driven faster to accommodate increased crop capacity, then larger harvesters can process more crop, but wear of parts, power costs, and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a continuous draper belt system that eliminates gaps and interruptions in the crop transfer path. This continuous design reduces turbulence and mechanical stress on the belt and rollers, thereby reducing wear and maintenance requirements even when operating at higher speeds to increase crop processing capacity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A draper belt system (100) is provided that includes a first draper frame (102) pivotally coupled to a second draper frame (104) at a pivot joint (114). The pivot joint (114) includes a central longitudinal axis (116) about which rotation at the pivot joint occurs. The draper belt system (100) includes a draper belt assembly (126) including a first roller (128) rotatably coupled to the first draper frame, a second roller (136) rotatably coupled to the second draper frame, and a third roller (140) rotatably coupled between the first and second draper frames. The third roller includes a central longitudinal axis (116) about which the third roller rotates. The central longitudinal axis of the third roller is the same as the central longitudinal axis of the pivot joint.