Header Suspension Pivot Geometry for Faster Ground Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing header suspension systems in agricultural equipment are limited by their inability to react quickly enough to uneven terrain, leading to contact between the cutter bar and the ground, especially at higher vehicle speeds, due to high inertia and slow response times.
Innovation Solution
A header suspension system featuring a frame actuator with a hydraulic circuit and accumulator, allowing the frame to pivot relative to an anchor plate, and a faceplate actuator to adjust position, enhancing the system's responsiveness to ground undulations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the header is actively raised and lowered to account for ground undulations, then the header can track the ground shape, but the system cannot react quickly enough at higher vehicle speeds due to high inertia
Solution Approach 1:
The header is divided into multiple independent support arms that can move relative to the main header body. Each support arm with its cutter bar can independently respond to ground undulations, reducing the effective mass that needs to be accelerated and improving response time at higher vehicle speeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The support arms are designed with movable connections to the header body, allowing them to dynamically adjust their position in response to ground variations. This dynamic configuration enables faster response to terrain changes compared to a rigid header structure.
2Ease of operation
If the entire mass of the header moves up and down according to upper and lower links, then the header can be suspended, but the high magnitudes of inertia resist quick up and down movement
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of suspending the entire header mass as a single unit, the system segments the header into multiple support arms that can move independently. This segmentation reduces the effective inertia for each moving component, allowing faster response to ground undulations.
Solution Approach 2:
The support arms are positioned forward of the header frame, creating a geometric configuration where upward forces from ground contact are translated into lateral motion of the header body rather than requiring rapid vertical acceleration of the entire mass.
3Extent of automation
If ground distance sensing equipment is used to control header height, then the header can be actively controlled, but the control system cannot react quickly enough to lift the header over uneven terrain
Solution Approach 1:
The support arms with cutter bars directly contact the ground and automatically respond to terrain variations through their movable connections to the header body. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for ground sensing equipment and active control systems, providing instantaneous response to ground undulations.
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 system enables the header to react more freely to external loads, reducing inertia and allowing faster operation at higher ground speeds by translating upward forces into lateral motion, minimizing ground contact and improving suspension cycle times.
Implementation Method 1
a frame actuator connected between the anchor plate and the frame and configured to resiliently hold the frame at a predetermined position relative to the anchor plate, and to allow the frame to move through a range of motion relative to the anchor plate, upon compression and/or extension of the frame actuator
Implementation Method 2
The hydraulic circuit includes an accumulator in fluid communication with the drive input, and the hydraulic circuit is configured to allow the frame to pivot relative to the anchor plate about a frame pivot axis by displacing a quantity of hydraulic fluid from the at least one single-acting hydraulic actuator to the accumulator
Data Source
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AI summary
An agricultural vehicle header suspension having a frame, a plurality of supports extending forward from the frame, an anchor plate, a frame pivot joining the frame to the anchor plate to be rotatable about a frame pivot axis, a frame actuator connected between the anchor plate and the frame and configured to resiliently hold the frame at a predetermined position relative to the anchor plate, and to allow the frame to move through a range of motion relative to the anchor plate, upon compression and/or extension of the frame actuator. The frame actuator may be, for example, at least one single-acting hydraulic actuator, mechanical spring, or a pneumatic cylinder.