Harvest Header Wheel Arrangement for Narrow Stable Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing crop harvesting headers face challenges in transporting smaller headers due to impractical axle arrangements, inconvenient separate trailers, and unstable ground wheel support systems, particularly for headers less than 30 feet wide, which are not accommodated by existing solutions.
Innovation Solution
A header design featuring a suspended wheel arrangement with adjustable suspension linkages and pivotal wheel axes, allowing easy transition between transport and working positions, and a hitch arm connection system for stable towing, minimizing manual effort and ensuring stable support during transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single wheel with tandem axle arrangement is used for header transport, then the header can be towed at right angles to working direction, but the arrangement is impractical for headers less than 30 feet wide and requires complex axle rotation mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel arrangement is divided into separate front and rear wheel assemblies, each independently pivotable. The front wheel assembly includes a front wheel and the rear wheel assembly includes rear wheels, allowing independent positioning and simplifying the overall structure compared to a single integrated tandem axle system.
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel assemblies are made dynamically adjustable through pivotable mounting that allows rotation between horizontal and vertical orientations. This dynamic positioning capability enables the wheels to adapt between transport configuration (reduced width) and working configuration (gauge wheel function) without complex fixed mechanisms.
2Ease of operation
If ground wheels are used to support the header during transport, then the header can be towed independently, but the wheels require manual pinning and adjustment between positions
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel assemblies are designed to be self-positioning through spring-loaded suspension mechanisms that automatically guide the wheels into their correct horizontal or vertical orientations based on the operational state of the header, eliminating the need for manual pinning and adjustment by the operator.
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension system is pre-configured with stops and guides that automatically position the wheels in the correct orientation before transport or working operations begin, so that no additional manual positioning actions are required at the time of operation.
3Length of moving object
If the header width is reduced for transport, then the header can pass through gates and along roads, but the working width is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The header width is made dynamically adjustable through the pivotable wheel assemblies. During transport, the wheels pivot to a vertical orientation reducing the effective width for passing through gates and roads. During working operations, the wheels pivot to a horizontal orientation to provide the necessary gauge wheel function at full working width, thus maintaining both transport and working capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A header for a crop harvesting machine includes front and rear wheel arrangements that pivot about respective upright axis between a field orientation and a perpendicular transport orientation, while having respective suspensions arrangements movable between different suspended heights. A biasing spring provides lift assist to carry weight of the wheel arrangement during adjustment of the suspension elevation while being isolated from the suspension once set at any one elevation. The front wheel arrangement includes an anti-rotation latch that locks the front wheel in the field orientation automatically upon disconnection of a hitch arm. A second wheel of the rear wheel arrangement can be held in a raised position relative to a first wheel in a field orientation. Load bearing surfaces between the suspended rear wheels and the header frame abut one another when latching to the header frame to isolate the suspension from the header frame in the transport orientation.