Loader Wagon Shield Prevents Material Loss

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing loader wagons face issues with effective discharge of harvested material from the forward portion of the load space, leading to material bulging and being lost, especially when discharging along public roads, which is time-consuming and cumbersome, and can cause blockages.

Innovation Solution

A loader wagon design featuring a pivotable front wall with a shield connected to its lower end, which moves rearward and forward to close off the infeed passage, preventing material from bulging and dropping off, eliminating the need for a separate actuator to control the shield.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the lower end of the front wall is moved rearward to push harvested material towards the conveyors, then the discharge effectiveness is improved, but harvested material bulges up forward of the front wall and drops off the loader wagon causing loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedischarge effectivenessVSAvoidharvested material loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

A shield is introduced as an intermediary element between the movable front wall and the harvested material in the infeed passage. The shield closes off the portion of the infeed passage forward of the lower end of the front wall, preventing material from bulging forward and dropping off while allowing the front wall to move rearward for effective discharge

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the lower end of the front wall is moved rearward to push harvested material, then discharge effectiveness is improved, but material becomes trapped between the front wall and infeed passage blocking full forward return movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedischarge effectivenessVSAvoidfront wall return movement
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The shield acts as a mediator that closes off the infeed passage forward of the front wall's lower end, preventing harvested material from becoming trapped between the front wall and the infeed passage structure, thereby ensuring unobstructed forward return movement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of substance

If a shield is added to close off the infeed passage, then material loss is prevented, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveharvested material lossVSAvoidshield mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shield is merged with the lower end of the front wall, forming an integrated structure where the shield is connected to the front wall along an edge of the shield. This allows the shield to move rearward and forward automatically with the front wall without requiring separate actuators

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The shield is entrained by the front wall's movement, making the shield self-actuating. As the front wall moves rearward to push material, the shield automatically closes off the infeed passage forward of the front wall, and when the front wall returns forward, the shield opens automatically without needing separate control mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3590324B1Loader wagon and method for unloading a loader wagon
Publication Date: 2021.11.03 SV GRP BV
  • EP3590324B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3590324B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3590324B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A loader wagon with a loading system for gathering stalk material and transporting gathered stalk material into the load carrying box through an infeed passage in the bottom of the load carrying box into the load carrying box. A lower end portion of the front wall is movable between a forward position and a rearward position. The lower end of the front wall in the rearward position is rearward of at least a forward portion of the infeed passage. A shield is connected to a lower end of the front wall along an edge of the shield for moving rearward and forward with the lower end of the front wall. The shield projects forwardly from the lower end of the front wall and closes off the portion of the infeed passage forward of the lower end of the front wall.