Header Wheel Pivot Linkage for Agricultural Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural headers with increased size face transportation difficulties due to insufficient ground clearance, leading to potential damage from wheel contact with the ground during position changes, and require separate trailers or heavy and cumbersome wheels for transport.
Innovation Solution
A two-point pivot linkage assembly is integrated into the header's wheel transport system, allowing the axle support member to pivot between transportation and harvesting positions, maintaining ground clearance and preventing wheel contact, using a combination of first and second swing arms pivotably connected to the header frame and axle support member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the header size is increased to improve harvesting capacity, then harvesting efficiency is improved, but transportation becomes difficult due to insufficient ground clearance
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel assembly is designed to dynamically change its position relative to the header frame. The wheel support structure can pivot or swing between a lowered position during harvesting (providing ground clearance) and a raised position during transportation. This dynamic adjustment allows the header to maintain large harvesting capacity while becoming easier to transport by clearing obstacles on the road.
2Ease of operation
If swing wheels are used for transportation, then transportation capability is improved, but the wheels may contact the ground during position changes causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel assembly incorporates a controlled deployment mechanism that prevents the wheel from contacting the ground during the transition from storage to operational position. The pivot design and initial positioning ensure the wheel clears the ground throughout the movement, eliminating impact loads that would cause damage to the wheel, support structure, or actuators.
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel support structure acts as an intermediary between the header frame and the wheel. This intermediate pivoting mechanism allows controlled movement and positioning, ensuring the wheel follows a safe trajectory during deployment that prevents ground contact and potential damage while still enabling transportation capability.
3Ease of operation
If integral swing wheels are used, then transportation is enabled, but insufficient ground clearance prevents free swinging of the wheel under the header frame
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of swinging the wheel in a simple vertical arc beneath the header frame, the design positions the wheel to pivot in a different spatial dimension or trajectory. The wheel support structure is configured to swing the wheel outward and upward in a path that clears the ground, effectively using three-dimensional space to resolve the ground clearance constraint while maintaining transportation capability.
Data Source
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AI summary
A transport assembly (140) for a header of an agricultural harvester is provided. The assembly comprises a header frame (113), an axle support member (166) and a two point pivot linkage assembly (178, 180). The axle support member (166) supports a wheel axle (164), the wheel axle (164) rotatably carrying a wheel (162). The two point pivot linkage assembly (178, 180) links the axle support member (166) to the header frame (113), the two point pivot linkage assembly (178, 180) having first ends (184) pivotably connected to the header frame (113) and second ends (190) opposite the first ends (184) pivotably connected to the axle support member (166), wherein the axle support member (166) pivots about the two point pivot linkage assembly (178, 180) between a transportation position and a harvesting position..