Harvester Shaft Support Element Reduces Bending Moments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Harvesting machines experience significant bending moments on shafts and stub shafts due to large center distances and limited space, leading to structural complexity and maintenance challenges, particularly in belt drives where components are cantilevered and unsupported.
Innovation Solution
A support element is provided on the machine frame that radially supports the end of the shaft or hub, allowing it to be movable for maintenance and repair, reducing bending moments by absorbing radial forces and transmitting them to the frame, with options for ball head engagement, spherical caps, and pivotable frames for accessibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If shafts are cantilevered without additional support to simplify structure, then device complexity is reduced, but bending moments on shaft ends increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
A support element is introduced as an intermediary component between the machine frame and the shaft end. This support element absorbs radial forces from the traction drive and transmits them to the machine frame, thereby reducing bending moments on the shaft while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Strength
If support element is fixed in position to reduce bending moments, then shaft strength is improved, but maintenance accessibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The support element is designed with movable and adjustable characteristics, allowing it to be positioned in different locations along the shaft. During maintenance, the support element can be relocated to provide clearance for accessing belt drives and other components, while during operation it provides optimal support to minimize bending moments.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple belt drives are arranged in different planes to fit limited space, then space utilization is improved, but bending moments on shafts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The support element acts as a mediator that intercepts radial forces from multiple belt drives arranged in different planes before they can combine and create large bending moments on the shaft. By providing a local support point near the shaft end, the support element reduces the lever arm and consequently the bending moments, even when multiple drives are configured in space-constrained arrangements.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
A drive system of a harvesting machine has at least one traction drive (2) within which at least one driven wheel (4) is driven by a drive wheel (3) or at least one auxiliary wheel via a traction element (7). The drive wheel (3) and/or the at least one driven wheel (4) and/or the at least one auxiliary wheel are each arranged on an end section of a shaft (13, 16) mounted in a machine frame of the harvesting machine.To reduce the bending moments occurring at the end (15, 18) of the shaft (13, 16), a support element (22) is provided on the machine frame (1), which engages at the end (15, 18) of the at least one shaft (13, 16) or at a hub (12, 19) of the drive wheel (3), the at least one driven wheel (4) and/or the at least one feedforward wheel and radially supports the hub (12, 19) or the end (15, 18), wherein the support element (22) is movable from its support position for maintenance and repair work.