Foldable Homologation Frame for Agricultural Harvester Headers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing homologation frames for agricultural harvesters are cumbersome and time-consuming to attach and detach from the header during road transport, posing risks of damage and visibility issues, especially at night.
Innovation Solution
A foldable homologation frame that is integral to the header, allowing easy transition between an upright harvest position and a downward transport position, equipped with visibility-enhancing safety features that can be remotely operated from the operator cab.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a homologation frame is attached to the header for road transport, then visibility and safety are improved, but the complexity of attachment and detachment operations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The homologation frame is merged with the header structure through pivotal attachment, creating an integrated assembly where the frame becomes part of the header itself. This eliminates the need for separate attachment/detachment operations and allows the frame to be repositioned between upright and downward positions as a unified structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The homologation frame is made dynamic through pivotal attachment points, allowing it to transition between different positions (upright for harvest mode and downward for transport mode). This dynamic capability replaces static attachment/detachment operations, enabling the frame to adapt its configuration based on operational requirements without being permanently fixed or removed.
2Ease of operation
If a homologation frame is set aside after removal, then storage space is required, but the risk of damage and difficulty in finding the frame increases
Solution Approach 1:
The homologation frame remains merged with the header structure through pivotal attachment, eliminating the need to set it aside separately. The frame travels with the header in a compact, protected position during transport, reducing the risk of damage and ensuring it is always easily locatable near the header assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The homologation frame is positioned in a nested or folded configuration against the header when not in use, similar to how a nested doll stores smaller objects within larger ones. This compact storage position protects the frame from damage while keeping it associated with the header, eliminating the need for separate storage areas.
3Ease of operation
If the homologation frame is made foldable between upright and downward positions, then ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The homologation frame incorporates pivotal attachment points that enable smooth transitions between upright and downward positions. These dynamic joints allow the frame to be repositioned easily without requiring complex locking mechanisms or multiple attachment points, achieving simplicity through well-engineered rotational freedom.
Solution Approach 2:
The homologation frame is divided into segmented sections connected by pivotal joints, allowing each segment to move independently relative to others. This segmentation enables the frame to fold into compact configurations while maintaining structural integrity, achieving complex motion capabilities through simple repeated joint mechanisms.
Data Source
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AI summary
A header (18) for an agricultural harvester (10) includes a framework, a crop gathering arrangement (72) defining a forward end (76) of the header (18), and a homologation frame (74) attachable to the framework (70) and having at least one visibility enhancing safety feature (78). The header (18) is characterized in that the homologation frame (74) ncludes at least two arms (80) which are pivotally attached to the framework (70), and the homologation frame (74) is movable between an upright position in which the arms (80) extend in a generally upward direction and a downward position in which the arms (80) extend in a generally forward direction. The at least one visibility enhancing safety feature (78) is positioned in association with the forward end (76) of the header (18) when the homologation frame (74) is in the downward position, such that the at least one visibility enhancing safety feature (78) is visible from a front of the harvester (10).