Feederhouse Yaw Frame Alignment for Safer Header Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing self-propelled agricultural harvesters face challenges in efficiently and safely attaching and adjusting harvesting headers due to the complexity of pitch and yaw adjustments, which can lead to misalignment and increased operator risk during the harvesting process.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a feederhouse assembly with a yaw frame and pitch frame, controlled by hydraulic cylinders and a control system, that uses electromagnetic transceivers to determine the header's orientation and position, allowing for automated alignment and secure attachment of the harvesting header to the agricultural harvester.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual pitch and yaw adjustments are used for header attachment, then operator control flexibility is maintained, but operator safety deteriorates due to increased risk during manual adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The header attachment system performs self-alignment using electromagnetic transceivers that automatically detect and communicate header orientation and position to the control system, eliminating the need for manual adjustment operations and thereby improving operator safety
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment operations with an automated control system that uses electromagnetic transceivers and hydraulic cylinders to perform pitch and yaw adjustments, substituting human operators with automated sensing and actuation mechanisms
2Manufacturing precision
If complex pitch and yaw adjustment mechanisms are implemented, then header alignment precision is improved, but the complexity of the attachment system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system continuously receives feedback from electromagnetic transceivers regarding header orientation and position, automatically adjusting pitch and yaw mechanisms to achieve precise alignment without requiring complex manual intervention systems
Solution Approach 2:
The electromagnetic transceivers serve multiple functions including position detection, orientation sensing, and communication with the control system, reducing the need for separate specialized sensors and simplifying the overall attachment system architecture
3Ease of operation
If automated alignment using electromagnetic transceivers is implemented, then connection process simplicity is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional sensors and control systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the electromagnetic transceivers, control system, and hydraulic actuation mechanisms into an integrated header attachment system, where multiple functions are merged into a unified automated process that simplifies operation despite increased internal complexity
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 solution simplifies the connection process, improves safety by reducing the need for manual adjustments, and ensures precise alignment of the harvesting header with the agricultural harvester, enhancing operational efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a yaw frame and a pitch frame, controlled by hydraulic cylinders and a control system, that uses electromagnetic transceivers to determine the header's orientation and position
Data Source
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AI summary
A feederhouse assembly (200) for an agricultural harvester (100) includes a feederhouse (200) having an inlet end (204), a yaw frame (214) adjacent the inlet end (204) and arranged to pivot about a vertical axis (216) relative to the feederhouse (200), and at least one hydraulic cylinder (220) configured to apply a hydraulic force to rotate the yaw frame (214) about the vertical axis (216). A method of connecting a harvesting header to an agricultural harvester includes applying a first hydraulic force from at least one hydraulic cylinder to a yaw frame (214), moving the agricultural harvester toward the harvesting header, securing the harvesting header to the yaw frame (214), and applying a second hydraulic force from the at least one hydraulic cylinder to the yaw frame (214) to orient the harvesting header at a right angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the agricultural harvester (100).