Header Mounting Frame Actuator Load Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increased width and weight of agricultural harvester headers lead to high tension and forces on connection points, causing potential damage or breakage during operation, especially due to unexpected impacts.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of two fore-aft actuators extending directly between the feeder and the header mounting frame, with cross-coupling and over-dimensioning to distribute load and reduce stress on connection points, creating a more rigid and adjustable header mounting system for both fore-aft and lateral tilt movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the header width and weight are increased to improve harvesting capacity, then the productivity increases, but the tension and forces on connection points increase causing potential damage or breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is divided into multiple connection points between the feeder and intermediate frame, and between the intermediate frame and header mounting frame. This segmentation distributes the load from the heavy header across multiple locations, preventing any single connection point from experiencing excessive stress that could lead to failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple support structures (feeder-to-intermediate frame connections and intermediate frame-to-header mounting frame connections) into an integrated system. This merging creates redundant load paths that share the mechanical stresses, enhancing the overall reliability of the mounting system while supporting larger, heavier headers for improved productivity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the header mounting frame is pivotally mounted to allow lateral tilt movement, then the adaptability to uneven ground surfaces improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The header mounting frame is designed with pivotal connections that enable dynamic lateral tilt movement relative to the feeder. This dynamic capability allows the header to automatically adjust its orientation in response to uneven ground surfaces, improving adaptability while the patent manages the associated complexity through careful design of the pivotal mounting mechanism.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Agricultural harvester (1) comprising a feeder (3), wherein the feeder (3) is pivotally mounted to an intermediate frame (6) with respect to a first axis of motion (7). The intermediate frame (6) is pivotally mounted to a header mounting frame (5) with respect to a second axis of motion (11). The pivoting around the first axis of motion and the second axis of motion allows a fore-aft movement (23) and a lateral tilt movement (22). At least one lateral tilt actuator (19) is provided to actuate the header mounting frame in the lateral tilt movement (22). Two fore-aft actuators (15) are provided for extending between a first set of mounting positions (16) at the feeder and a second set of mounting positions (17) at the header mounting frame, to actuate the header mounting frame in the fore-aft movement.