Flexible Cutterbar Draper Header for Uneven Terrain

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional draper headers for combine harvesters face challenges in efficiently severing and handling crops like soybeans, which require precise cutting at the base of the plants, and in accommodating terrain changes during harvesting, leading to inefficiencies and crop loss.

Innovation Solution

A draper header with a flexible cutterbar and four-bar arm supporting linkage that allows the cutterbar and draper assemblies to flex, ensuring consistent cutting action and material delivery, even on uneven terrain, by using a combination of mechanical and hydraulic systems for drive and flotation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a rigid cutterbar is used, then structural strength is maintained, but the ability to accommodate terrain changes and maintain consistent cutting action is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to accommodate terrain changesVSAvoidcutterbar structural strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The cutterbar is divided into multiple segments that can flex relative to each other, allowing the cutterbar to accommodate terrain changes while maintaining overall structural integrity through the segmented design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cutterbar transitions from a rigid static structure to a dynamic flexible structure that can adapt its shape to terrain variations, enabling consistent cutting action across uneven surfaces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the draper header is designed for fixed geometry, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but efficiency in handling crops requiring precise base severance is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveefficiency of crop severance and material deliveryVSAvoidheader structural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The draper header incorporates flexible components including the cutterbar and draper assemblies that can dynamically adjust to terrain changes, improving crop handling efficiency while maintaining manageable structural complexity through coordinated flexibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The header design allows parameters such as cutterbar position and draper assembly orientation to change dynamically in response to terrain variations, enabling precise base severance of crops like soybeans

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the cutterbar and draper assemblies are made flexible, then consistent cutting action on uneven terrain is achieved, but structural stability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconsistency of cutting actionVSAvoidstructural stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible cutterbar is segmented into multiple sections that can independently adjust to terrain variations, maintaining cutting consistency while distributing structural loads across segments to preserve overall stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The draper assemblies utilize flexible belt structures that can conform to terrain changes while maintaining tensile strength and structural integrity, achieving reliable material delivery without compromising stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentUS8601780B2Combine harvester draper header with pivoting structure within side draper

Publication Date: 2013.12.10 AGCO CORP

AI summary

A harvesting header includes a header frame, a flexible cutterbar assembly mounted to the header frame, a plurality of laterally spaced apart support arms, and a draper assembly. The support arms are attached to and cooperatively support the cutterbar assembly and are pivotally coupled to the frame for swinging movement about a laterally extending axis. The draper assembly includes a side draper carried on multiple ones of the support arms so as to flex with the cutterbar assembly. The draper assembly includes rollers and a roller frame that operably interconnects the interior support arm and a respective one of the rollers.