Flexing Row Crop Header With Floating Wings for Terrace Contouring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing row crop headers struggle to navigate the steep back-slopes of farmable terraces near river basins, compromising harvesting efficiency due to their inability to fit or contour effectively, often requiring operators to hang the header over the edge or use specialized, smaller equipment.

Innovation Solution

A row crop header with a center section and independently pivotal side wing sections, equipped with hydraulic or spring float systems, allows the side wing sections to contour to the field surface, ensuring consistent harvesting height and preventing digging into the terrain, while maintaining efficient crop transfer and processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a typical header frame is used for harvesting row crops, then harvesting efficiency is improved through larger equipment size, but the header cannot fit into or contour to the back-slopes of farmable terraces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveharvesting efficiencyVSAvoidability to contour to terrace back-slopes

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The header frame is divided into a center section and multiple side wing sections that can pivot independently relative to each other. This segmentation allows the side wing sections to contour to the back-slopes of farmable terraces while the center section maintains harvesting efficiency, resolving the contradiction between large equipment size and adaptability to terraced terrain.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the header is hung over the edge of the back-slope to access terrace areas, then access to terrace areas is achieved, but the header cannot properly contour to the field surface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to terrace areasVSAvoidcontour following capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The side wing sections are designed with independent pivotal movement capability through link mechanisms, allowing them to dynamically adjust and contour to the back-slope terrain. This dynamic adaptability enables the header to properly follow the field surface while accessing terrace areas, eliminating the need to hang over edges.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If a smaller specialized header is used for back-slope harvesting, then the header can fit into back-slopes, but harvesting efficiency is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to fit into back-slopesVSAvoidharvesting efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The header frame is designed with a universal configuration that combines a center section for efficient harvesting with side wing sections that can pivot to adapt to various terrains including back-slopes. This multi-functional design allows a single header to perform both high-efficiency harvesting on level ground and adapt to contouring on terraced terrain, eliminating the need for specialized smaller headers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Stability of the object's composition

If the side wing sections are rigidly attached to the center section, then structural stability is maintained, but the header cannot contour to varied terrain

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidcontour following capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The header frame is segmented into a center section and side wing sections connected by pivotal links. This segmentation maintains structural stability through rigid sections while enabling contour following capability through the pivotal connections that allow independent movement of side wing sections relative to the center section.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connection between side wing sections and center section is made dynamic through pivotal links rather than rigid attachments. This allows the side wing sections to move independently to contour to varied terrain while maintaining structural integrity through the linked connection system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20260068816A1Flexing header with float system

Publication Date: 2026.03.12 MACDON INDS

AI summary

A row crop header for harvesting crop in a field comprises a header frame having a center section and a pair of side wing sections operatively coupled to the center section. An upper link is pivotally coupled between the center section and each one of the side wing sections adjacent the top portion thereof. A lower link is pivotally coupled between the center section and each one of the side wing sections adjacent the bottom portion thereof. The upper links and lower links provide independent pivotal movement of the side wing sections relative to the center section to contour to the surface of the field of crops to be harvested. An automatic float system is operatively coupled between the center section and each one of the side wing sections to adjust the weight of the side wing sections on the surface of the field and allow the side wing sections to float relative to the center section.