Lateral Cutting Implement for Obstacle-Avoiding Combine Headers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Combine harvesters are hindered by vertical obstructions such as poles supporting photovoltaic cell aggregates, preventing the harvesting of crops in their vicinity.
Innovation Solution
A pivotable lateral cutting implement is attached to the header, capable of pivoting to avoid obstacles while cutting and gathering crops adjacent to the main cutting area, utilizing knives, gathering arms, and transfer elements to deliver crops to the header frame.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional header with fixed cutting knives is used, then the header structure is simple and reliable, but crops in the immediate vicinity of vertical poles cannot be harvested
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting system is divided into two independent segments: the main header frame with fixed cutting knives and a separate laterally movable cutting implement. This segmentation allows the movable implement to independently navigate around obstacles while the main header remains stable, enabling harvesting in areas adjacent to vertical poles without compromising the overall header structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting implement is designed with lateral movability, transitioning from a fixed to a dynamic configuration. The implement can move laterally along the header frame and pivot to avoid obstacles, providing the adaptability needed to harvest crops near vertical obstructions while maintaining operational reliability through controlled movement mechanisms.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the cutting implement is made movable to avoid obstacles, then crops near poles can be harvested, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting implement incorporates lateral movement capability along the header frame, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position and avoid vertical obstacles. This dynamic design provides adaptability to operate near poles while using controlled movement mechanisms that balance versatility with operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable cutting implement acts as an intermediary between the main header frame and the crops near obstacles. It can laterally detach and reattach to the header frame, serving as a flexible mediator that extends harvesting capability to difficult areas without requiring complete redesign of the entire header system.
3Area of stationary object
If the lateral cutting implement is added to expand harvesting area, then more crops can be harvested, but the device complexity and initial structure complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting system is divided into two independent segments: the main header frame with fixed cutting knives and a separate laterally movable cutting implement. This segmentation allows the movable implement to independently navigate around obstacles while the main header remains stable, enabling harvesting in areas adjacent to vertical poles without compromising the overall header structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting implement adds lateral movement capability along the header frame, extending the cutting area into an adjacent dimension. This dimensional expansion allows the implement to reach crops near vertical poles that are outside the main header's cutting width, effectively increasing the total harvesting area without requiring a proportionally larger main header structure.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
The present invention is thus related to a combine header (1') comprising a header frame (5), a reel (3) and a set of cutting knives (2), and further comprising a lateral cutting implement (25), that is pivotably attached to one lateral end of the header frame. The implement is configured to cut crops in an area adjacent the main cutting area, and to pivot in the direction opposite the driving direction when an obstacle appears in said area, so that direct contact between the implement and the obstacle is avoided while enabling the harvesting of crops in said area. The cutting implement comprises cutting knives (30) for cutting crops in said area adjacent the main cutting area of the header, and gathering arms (35) and retaining rotor elements (38,39) for transporting the crops towards the header frame (5). One or more transfer elements (45) are provided on the header frame for transferring the crops from the implement to a position from where they can be gathered into the header frame (5) by the reel (3).