Harvesting Header Inverted Folding for Center of Gravity Shift
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural harvesters face challenges in transporting harvesting attachments due to their wide width exceeding permissible road transport dimensions, leading to a forward-shifted center of gravity when folded, which increases load on the front wheels and limits visibility during transport.
Innovation Solution
The harvesting attachment is designed with inclined first axes and diverging second axes, allowing the outer parts to pivot upwards and inwards, and middle parts to pivot upwards relative to the inner part, shifting the center of gravity rearward and improving visibility by angling the cutting and intake devices, enabling a narrower transport position without compromising working width.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the harvesting attachment is folded into a transport position with outer parts extending forwardly from middle parts, then the header achieves a compact transport position, but the center of gravity shifts forward increasing load on front wheels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional folding arrangement by orienting the pivot axes obliquely forwards and upwards instead of horizontally. This causes the outer parts to extend rearwardly rather than forwardly when folded, thereby shifting the center of gravity rearward and reducing the load on front wheels while maintaining compact transport width
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces oblique orientation of the first and second pivot axes in three-dimensional space, combining horizontal and vertical components. This dimensional change allows the header sections to fold into a compact configuration while simultaneously positioning the center of gravity rearward, resolving both the width reduction and load distribution requirements
2Length of moving object
If the harvesting attachment is folded into a transport position, then the transport width is reduced, but the visibility during transport is limited
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting the folding direction so that outer parts extend rearwardly instead of forwardly when folded, the patent clears the forward field of view for the operator, thereby improving visibility during transport while still achieving the required compact transport width
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b~4b
Figure 2a~3a
AI summary
The harvesting header (10) has an inner portion (24) pivoted at two lateral ends of middle portion (26) over upwardly inclined axes (32). The outer portion (28) is pivotally connected at both lateral ends of middle portion over forwardly diverging angled axis (34). The inner, middle and outer portions are extended in horizontal plane during operating position. The outer portion is arranged opposite to middle portion, at angle of 180[deg] about forwardly diverging angled axis and the middle portion is pivoted relative to inner portion about inclined axis, during transport position.