Header Cover Tip Locking Mechanism for Transport Width Compliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing attachments for harvesting crops in rows face challenges in transporting the cover elements, as they protrude excessively, requiring significant effort to move into a transport position and are prone to mechanical stress, complicating compliance with legal width regulations during transportation.
Innovation Solution
The attachment features pivotally mounted cover elements with a spring-loaded locking device that allows easy transition between working and transport positions, ensuring compliance with legal requirements while minimizing effort and stress on the connection points, with a locking device positioned in the overlap area of the cover and cover tip for space-saving and force absorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cover tips extend beyond the front end of the picking units to guide plants effectively, then the guiding function is improved, but the attachment width increases making transport on public roads difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The cover tip is designed to be pivotable relative to the cover hood, allowing it to dynamically change position between a working position (extending beyond for effective plant guidance) and a transport position (retracted for compliance with road width regulations). This dynamic configuration enables the attachment to adapt to different operational requirements.
2Length of moving object
If the cover tip and cover hood are moved together into transport position, then the width requirement is met, but considerable force is required and connection points are exposed to high stresses
Solution Approach 1:
The cover element is segmented into two independently movable parts: the cover tip and the cover hood. The cover tip can be pivoted separately into the transport position and secured by a locking device, while the cover hood remains stationary or moves independently. This segmentation reduces the force required compared to moving both parts together and distributes mechanical stresses to specific connection points designed to handle them.
Solution Approach 2:
A spring-loaded locking device automatically secures the cover tip in the transport position, reducing the effort required by the operator. The locking element engages with a locking receptacle to hold the cover tip in place without requiring continuous force application.
3Manufacturing precision
If a complex mechanism is used to move both cover tip and cover hood simultaneously, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning mechanism is segmented into independent components: the cover tip pivots independently on the cover hood, and each has its own locking device. This eliminates the need for a complex synchronized mechanism while maintaining positioning accuracy through individual control and locking of each component.
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
The design allows effortless and reliable movement of cover elements into transport position, reducing mechanical stress and simplifying the transportation process while ensuring legal compliance, with quick reversion to working position, and provides lateral stabilization and accessibility for operators.
Implementation Method 1
a spring-loaded locking element which is assigned to the cover hood and which, in the transport position of the cover tip, engages in a locking receptacle assigned to the cover tip
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a header (1) for harvesting crops growing in rows. The header (1) comprises several picking units (5) arranged side by side and several cover elements (4) arranged side by side, each cover element (4) covering a gap between two adjacent picking units (5). Each cover element (4) comprises a front cover tip (8) and a rear cover hood (9), the cover tip (8) being pivotably mounted on the cover hood (9) and being pivotable relative to the cover hood (9) between a working position (A) and a transport position (T). The header (1) is characterized in that each cover element (4) comprises a locking device (13) designed to fix the cover tip (8) in its transport position (T).The locking device (13) comprises a spring-loaded locking element (14) which is assigned to the cover (9) and which engages in a locking receptacle (15) assigned to the cover tip (8) in the transport position (T).