Harvester Crop Container Extensions for Collision-Free Volume Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing crop intake containers for harvesting machines lack an efficient design that balances increased volume with simplified construction and collision-free movement between transport and receiving positions.
Innovation Solution
A crop intake container with opposing extension elements that overlap in a sandwich-like configuration, featuring a single-piece design, elastic intermediate elements, and a kinematic actuating device with characteristic-curve-controlled coupling elements to ensure sequential, collision-free movement between transport and receiving positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If extension elements are made longer to increase volume, then collection capacity increases, but device complexity and space requirements during transport increase
Solution Approach 1:
The extension elements are designed to nest within each other in a sandwich-like configuration during transport. The first extension element overlaps with the second extension element, and both are received within the collection container opening, minimizing the overall height while maintaining the ability to deploy full extension for maximum volume during collection operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The extension elements are made pivotally mountable to the collection container about a horizontal pivot axis, allowing them to dynamically transition between a closed transport position (folded down) and an open collection position (extended upward). This dynamic capability enables the container to adapt its volume based on operational needs while maintaining compact transport dimensions.
2Reliability
If extension elements are moved sequentially to avoid collisions, then reliability of movement increases, but actuation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating device is designed to pivotally mount the extension elements in a sequence that prevents collisions. The control device activates the extension elements in a predetermined order where the first extension element is positioned before the second extension element, ensuring that overlapping portions do not collide during the transition between transport and collection positions.
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
Enhances volume capacity while maintaining a compact transport form and simplifies assembly, reducing costs and ensuring smooth transitions without collisions during position changes.
Implementation Method 1
pairs of opposing extension elements (23a, 23b, 24a, 24b), wherein the extension elements (23a, 23b, 24a, 24b) are connected to one another by elastic intermediate elements (26)
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a crop receiving container (2) for a harvesting machine (1), comprising an upwardly open collection container (3) with a substantially polygonal opening cross-section and extension elements (23a, 23b; 24a, 24b) arranged in pairs opposite each other, which are each pivotally mounted about a substantially horizontal pivot axis (25) at the edge of an opening (21) of the collection container (3) in order to move the extension elements (23a, 23b, 24a, 24b) from a substantially closed transport position to an open receiving position and vice versa, wherein the respective opposing extension elements (23a, 23b; 24a, 24b) lie on top of each other in a sandwich-like manner in their transport position.