Combine Harvester Feederhouse Pivoting for Ground Contour Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current combine harvester feederhouse arrangements fail to accurately follow ground contours, leading to inefficiencies in harvesting crop plants.
Innovation Solution
A self-propelled combine harvester with a feederhouse featuring a tubular structure and a rectangular frame pivotally coupled to the front end, utilizing multiple hydraulic cylinders to adjust the feederhouse and harvesting head's position relative to the ground, allowing for precise alignment with the terrain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a single pivotal coupling is used to connect the feederhouse to the chassis, then the structure is simple, but the harvesting head cannot accurately follow ground contours
Solution Approach 1:
The feederhouse is divided into multiple segments: the main feederhouse body and a front frame assembly that can pivot independently. This segmentation allows each part to perform its function optimally while improving overall control precision for following ground contours.
Solution Approach 2:
The front frame is made dynamically pivotable relative to the main feederhouse body through a second pivotal coupling. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the harvesting head to adapt to varying ground contours while maintaining structural integrity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the feederhouse structure is made rigid to maintain stability, then structural strength is improved, but the ability to adjust to ground contours is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The front frame assembly incorporates a pivotal coupling that enables dynamic adjustment relative to the main feederhouse body. This allows the structure to adapt to ground contours while maintaining overall structural strength through proper mechanical design.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the feederhouse have different degrees of flexibility: the main body remains structurally rigid for strength, while the front frame assembly provides localized adaptability through pivotal movement to follow ground contours.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple hydraulic cylinders are added to control the front frame pivoting, then position control precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A hydraulic cylinder is used to provide controlled pivotal movement of the front frame assembly relative to the main feederhouse body. This enables dynamic position adjustment of the harvesting head to follow ground contours while maintaining manageable system complexity through a single actuator.
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 configuration enables the harvesting head to maintain a consistent height over ground contours, improving crop engagement and processing efficiency by allowing the harvesting head to adjust its angle of attack while keeping the cutter bar at a constant height, thereby enhancing harvesting accuracy and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an additional hydraulic cylinder that is coupled at one end to the rectangular frame, and coupled at the other end to the tubular structure. This additional hydraulic cylinder pivots the rectangular frame with respect to the tubular structure about the laterally extending pivotal axis
Data Source
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AI summary
A combine harvester (100) comprises a feederhouse (104) pivotally coupled to a forward end of the chassis (144) of the combine harvester (100). The feederhouse (104) comprises a front frame (120) pivotally coupled to a front end of the feederhouse (104). A feederhouse lift motor (141) is coupled at its rear end to the chassis (144 and at its front end to the front frame (120). A pivot motor (152) is coupled to and between the front end of the feederhouse (104) and the front frame (120) to pivot the front frame (120) with respect to the front end of the feederhouse (104).