Elastic Tine Segments for Agricultural Pick-Up Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pick-up devices for agricultural harvesting machines face issues with dirt sensitivity, crop flow resistance, complex tine replacement, and potential damage from foreign objects due to abrupt springback of tines, leading to maintenance challenges and operational inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A pick-up device with tine rings and segments made from elastic plastic, featuring complementary fastening means that allow independent mounting and replacement of tine segments without removing the tine rings, and a design that distributes load more evenly by varying tine distances and using latching or screw connections for secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If fingers are arranged directly on the drum surface, then the structure is simple, but the harvested crop cannot be entirely engaged by strippers and crop flow is disturbed
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a two-dimensional arrangement of fingers directly on the drum surface to a three-dimensional structure where tine rings protrude radially outward from the drum. This dimensional change creates intermediate spaces between adjacent tine rings, allowing strippers to effectively engage the harvested crop while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Ease of manufacture
If fingers are directly mounted on the drum, then installation is simple, but under mechanical loads the fingers may break at the contact point with the drum
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the finger structure into modular tine segments that can be independently mounted on tine rings. Each tine segment can be replaced individually without removing the entire tine ring or other tines, simplifying maintenance while improving reliability through easier replacement of damaged components.
3Strength
If tine rings are removed to replace tine segments, then secure attachment is achieved, but maintenance time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The complementary fastening means are pre-configured on both the tine rings and tine segments, allowing direct attachment without requiring removal of the tine rings. This preliminary preparation of fastening interfaces enables secure attachment while dramatically reducing maintenance time and complexity.
4Ease of manufacture
If uniform tine spacing is used, then manufacturing is simple, but load distribution is uneven leading to reduced durability
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements variable spacing between adjacent tine segments around the circumference of each tine ring, creating local variations in load distribution. This non-uniform arrangement optimizes load sharing across different operating conditions while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through standardized segment designs.
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
The solution enables efficient crop pickup with reduced resistance, simplified maintenance, and enhanced durability by preventing foreign objects from being catapulted, thus improving the overall operational reliability and ease of maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
The tine rings comprise tine segments which, in the mounted state, are arranged entirely above the lateral surface and are manufactured from an elastic plastic
Data Source
AI summary
A rotatable pick-up device, which is installed or installable in an agricultural harvesting machine, for harvested crop, having a roller-shaped drum with an outer lateral surface that has an outside diameter, a multiplicity of tine rings that are arranged on the outer lateral surface of the drum and protrude over the outside diameter of the drum, intermediate spaces for receiving strippers provided between adjacent tine rings, and the tine rings have tine segments that, in the mounted state, are arranged entirely above the lateral surface and are manufactured from an elastic plastic. The tine rings and the tine segments have mutually complementary fastening means, by means of which the tine segments can be mounted on the tine ring without the tine ring being removed.