Harvester Bulk Container Expansion Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bulk material containers with volume expansion devices are cost-intensive and prone to wear due to complex designs, requiring multiple moving parts to transfer the pivoting mechanism between closure and filling positions.
Innovation Solution
A bulk material container with a simplified expansion device design, where two first container extensions are coupled to two second extensions via struts, allowing direct and simultaneous transmission of pivoting movement, reducing the number of moving parts and components, and utilizing a single actuator with coupling rods to achieve volume expansion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If complex swivel mechanisms and multiple moving parts are used to transfer pivoting movement, then the expansion device can achieve volume increase, but the device becomes more susceptible to wear and more cost-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple moving parts and swivel mechanisms into a single, integrated pivoting mechanism. The container extensions are directly coupled to the pivot axis, eliminating the need for separate swivel mechanisms and reducing the number of moving parts. This merging approach maintains the volume expansion capability while significantly reducing wear susceptibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary intermediate components from the expansion mechanism. By removing complex swivel mechanisms and multiple moving parts, the design achieves direct transmission of pivoting movement from the pivot axis to the container extensions, thereby reducing wear points while preserving the volume increase function.
2Volume of moving object
If complex swivel mechanisms and multiple moving parts are used to transfer pivoting movement, then the expansion device can achieve volume increase, but the device becomes more cost-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple components into a simplified integrated structure where container extensions are directly coupled to the pivot axis. This reduces the number of parts that need to be manufactured and assembled, thereby lowering manufacturing costs while maintaining the volume expansion capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes unnecessary intermediate components from the design, eliminating complex swivel mechanisms and multiple moving parts. This extraction of redundant elements simplifies manufacturing processes and reduces material costs while preserving the essential volume increase function.
3Ease of operation
If multiple moving parts are used to transfer pivoting movement, then the expansion device can achieve position change, but the number of components inside the bulk container increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple position-transfer functions into a single pivoting mechanism. The container extensions are directly coupled to the pivot axis, allowing one rotational movement to simultaneously position multiple extensions without requiring separate mechanisms for each, thereby reducing component count while maintaining operational capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes unnecessary intermediate components from the position transfer system. By eliminating complex swivel mechanisms and redundant moving parts, the design achieves efficient position change with minimal components inside the bulk container.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a bulk material container (3) for a harvesting machine (1), comprising a filling device (23) arranged in the bulk material container (3) and an expansion device (2) arranged at an upper opening (21) of the bulk material container (3) for increasing the volume, wherein the expansion device (2) comprises two first container expansions (24, 25) arranged opposite each other and extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the bulk material container (3), and two further second container expansions (26, 27) arranged opposite each other and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bulk material container (3), wherein the container expansions (24, 25, 26, 27) form a lid that at least partially closes the upper opening (21) in flat closed positions and increase the volume of the bulk material container (3) in upright filling positions, wherein the two first container expansions (24,25) are coupled to the two second container extensions (26, 27) by means of a strut (32) each, the struts (32) being arranged to transmit a pivoting movement of the first container extensions (24, 25) simultaneously and directly to the second container extensions (26, 27).