Agricultural Carrier Vehicle Header Transport Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing self-propelled forage harvesters face challenges in maintaining legal axle load distribution and maximum overhang during road transport, especially with wider and heavier harvesting attachments, which restricts the driver's field of vision and requires complex conversion work, leading to reduced maneuverability and potential instability.
Innovation Solution
An adapter device maintains connection between the harvesting attachment and intake housing, allowing the attachment to pivot from a working to a transport position, utilizing a fifth wheel coupling and piston-cylinder adjustment for easy conversion without leaving the cab, ensuring compliance with axle load and overhang regulations while maintaining maneuverability and visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the harvesting attachment is folded vertically upwards to comply with maximum overhang regulations, then the legal compliance is improved, but the driver's field of vision is significantly restricted and the header may wobble when driving over bumps
Solution Approach 1:
The harvesting attachment is rotated from a vertical folding position to a horizontal transport position, changing the spatial dimension of the attachment's orientation. This allows the attachment to be transported without exceeding the 3-meter overhang limit while maintaining the driver's field of vision and preventing header wobble, as the attachment remains in a stable horizontal plane during transport.
2Reliability
If the harvesting attachment is folded vertically upwards to comply with maximum overhang regulations, then the legal compliance is improved, but the header may wobble when driving over bumps, leading to deterioration in maneuverability
Solution Approach 1:
The harvesting attachment is rotated from a vertical folding position to a horizontal transport position, changing the spatial dimension of the attachment's orientation. This stabilizes the header by maintaining it in a horizontal plane during transport, preventing wobble when driving over bumps and improving overall maneuverability while still complying with overhang regulations.
3Force
If fixed support wheels or separate support wagons are assigned to the harvesting attachment, then the load on the front wheels is reduced, but complex conversion work must be made to bring the header from working to transport mode position
Solution Approach 1:
The harvesting attachment is equipped with a dynamic positioning system that allows it to be rotated between working and transport positions. This dynamic adjustment enables the attachment to be repositioned without requiring complex conversion work or additional support wagons, as the attachment itself can be maneuvered into the appropriate position for each operational mode.
4Productivity
If the harvesting attachment is made wider to increase working area, then the productivity is improved, but the axle load distribution becomes problematic and the overhang exceeds legal limits
Solution Approach 1:
The harvesting attachment is rotated from a vertical folding position to a horizontal transport position, changing the spatial dimension of the attachment's orientation. This allows wider harvesting attachments to be transported without exceeding the 3-meter overhang limit, as the attachment is positioned horizontally rather than vertically, thereby maintaining both productivity and legal compliance.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The vehicle (2) has a front harvesting attachment (30) swivelable from a working position into a hauling position for picking up and conveying crop material. An adapting device (33) interconnects a feeder housing (26) and the front harvesting attachment. The adapting device is configured such that a connection between the attachment and the feeder housing is maintained when the attachment is swiveled from the working position into the hauling position. The carrier vehicle thaws the attachment using the adapting device in a direction of travel for hauling, during hauling operation.