Harvester Feederhouse Front Access via Separable Secondary Frame
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Solution Overview
Problem
Access to crop processing apparatus in self-propelled harvesters for maintenance is often cumbersome and time-consuming, leading to significant downtime during critical harvesting periods.
Innovation Solution
A self-propelled harvester design featuring a pivotally mounted feederhouse and tangential-flow crop impelling rotor, supported by a secondary frame assembly that can be easily separated from the main frame, allowing for front-end access to the processing apparatus for maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the feederhouse and rotor are mounted to a fixed frame structure, then the structural stability is maintained, but the access to crop processing apparatus becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The frame is divided into a main frame assembly and separable secondary frame members. The secondary frame members can be detached from the main frame assembly to provide front access to the crop processing apparatus, while the main frame assembly remains intact to maintain structural stability. This segmentation allows maintenance personnel to access the processing apparatus from the front without having to disassemble the entire frame structure.
2Productivity
If conventional rear access methods are used for maintenance, then structural integrity is preserved, but machine downtime increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The secondary frame members are pre-configured with attachment and detachment mechanisms that allow quick connection and disconnection from the main frame assembly. This preliminary preparation of the separable frame structure enables rapid access to the crop processing apparatus for maintenance, significantly reducing machine downtime during critical harvesting periods while preserving structural integrity when the secondary members are attached.
Data Source
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AI summary
A self-propelled harvester such as a combine harvester including a frame having a main frame assembly and a pair of secondary frame members attached thereto. The main frame assembly supports crop processing apparatus. A feederhouse and a tangential-flow crop impelling rotor are journaled between the secondary frame members. The secondary frame members are conveniently removable from the main frame assembly for accessing the processing apparatus from a front end of the harvester.