Header Tracking Wheel Locking Mechanism for Road Transport Width
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural headers with tracking wheels face challenges in transitioning to a transport position that complies with road width requirements due to the width of the windguard assembly and the potential for uncontrollable wheel rotation during transport.
Innovation Solution
A tracking fork mechanism that pivots to contact the windguard arm, causing the tracking wheel to rotate into a parallel orientation with the windguard roller axis, thereby locking it in place for transport without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the tracking wheels stay in their operating position on lateral sides of the header, then the tracking wheels can support the tines at the correct height during operation, but the header width exceeds road width requirements for transport
Solution Approach 1:
The tracking wheel assembly is designed to be movable between a first position for field operation and a second position for road transport. The wheel support member can pivot relative to the header frame, allowing the tracking wheel to be repositioned dynamically based on operational mode, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining operational functionality and reducing transport width.
Solution Approach 2:
The tracking wheel is rotated from a first orientation where it contacts the ground to a second orientation where it is elevated off the ground during transport. This dimensional change in wheel orientation allows the header to meet road width requirements while maintaining the capability to provide ground support during field operations.
2Length of moving object
If the tracking wheel is moved to a transport position, then the header width complies with road width requirements, but the wheel may rotate uncontrollably during transport
Solution Approach 1:
A windguard arm is introduced as an intermediary component between the tracking wheel and the header frame. The windguard arm includes a projection that contacts the wheel support member to prevent rotation of the tracking wheel during transport, thus maintaining wheel position stability while allowing the wheel to be repositioned for compliant transport width.
Solution Approach 2:
The tracking wheel assembly incorporates self-locking features where the wheel support member's geometry and the windguard arm's projection work together to automatically prevent wheel rotation when in the transport position, eliminating the need for additional active locking mechanisms.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a complex folding mechanism with multiple joints and control rods is added to move the tracking wheel, then the wheel can be repositioned for transport, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The functions of wheel support, wheel rotation prevention, and transport position maintenance are merged into an integrated assembly comprising the wheel support member, windguard arm, and projection interaction. This consolidation achieves the required adaptability for transport while minimizing device complexity by eliminating separate folding joints and control rods.
Data Source
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AI summary
A header (2) for an agricultural vehicle (1) includes: a header frame (200); a windguard assembly (20) carried by the header frame (200), the windguard assembly (20) including a windguard roller (21) coupled to a windguard arm (23) that is pivotably coupled to the header frame (200); and a tracking wheel assembly (210) carried by the header frame (200) and including a tracking wheel (211) coupled to a tracking fork (212). The tracking fork (212) is pivotable from a first position to a second position and includes a projection (213) that contacts the windguard arm (23) as the tracking fork (212) pivots from the first position to the second position such that contact of the projection (213) with the windguard arm (23) causes the tracking wheel (211) to rotate to an orientation where the tracking fork (212) abuts against the windguard arm (23) to inhibit rotation of the tracking wheel (211) when the tracking fork (212) is in the second position.