Harvesting Header Forming Shield for Tractor Wheel Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tractors with narrower wheel spacing and lower frame height interfere with cut crops discharged from harvesting headers, necessitating a solution to shape the cut crop for discharge beneath the tractor.
Innovation Solution
A crop harvesting header with a discharge shaper assembly featuring pivotable height and width deflectors to control the height and width of the windrow, ensuring the cut crops are discharged beneath the tractor without interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a wide harvesting header is used to process crops at a greater rate, then productivity is improved, but the wheels and frame of conventional tractors interfere with the discharged cut crops
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs pivotable deflectors that can be dynamically adjusted to change the discharge angle and windrow formation. The height deflector pivots to control windrow height, while width deflectors pivot to control windrow width and positioning. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt to different tractor configurations and operating conditions, resolving the interference problem while maintaining high productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical parameters of the discharged crop by controlling windrow height and width through pivotable deflectors. By adjusting these geometric parameters, the cut crops are shaped to flow beneath the tractor without interference, allowing conventional tractors to be used with wide harvesting headers
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional tractors with narrower wheel spacing and lower frame height are used, then the tractor structure is simpler and more versatile, but the wheels and frame interfere with cut crops discharged from the harvesting header
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge shaper assembly changes the geometric parameters of the discharged crop by controlling windrow height and width through pivotable deflectors. This allows the same harvesting header to work with various tractor configurations without modification, maintaining versatility while eliminating interference
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal solution that works with both conventional and windrowing tractors. The adjustable discharge shaper assembly can adapt to different tractor types, making the harvesting system universally compatible while solving the interference problem for conventional tractors
3Ease of operation
If the windrow height is increased to discharge crops beneath the tractor, then crop discharge is achieved, but the risk of crops being run over by tractor wheels increases
Solution Approach 1:
The height deflector pivots to precisely control windrow height, while width deflectors control windrow width. By optimizing both parameters, the windrow is shaped to flow beneath the tractor frame without contacting the wheels, achieving discharge while eliminating the risk of crops being run over
Data Source
AI summary
A crop harvesting header including a carrier frame configured to be mounted to a tractor to cut crop. The crop harvesting header includes a header frame movably coupled to the carrier frame and defining a discharge opening on a rear side. The crop harvesting header further includes a discharge shaper assembly, which includes a height deflector. The height deflector is pivotably coupled to the header frame adjacent to the discharge opening to control a height of discharged cut crop. The discharge shaper assembly may further include a width deflector to control a width of discharged cut crop.