Mounted Swather Rotor Orientation for Transport Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current swathers for harvesting forage, such as grass or straw, often require separate working phases and are not easily adaptable for simultaneous swathing and harvesting, especially in smaller, irregular fields like those in Scandinavia, and face challenges with visibility and stability during transport when mounted on tractors.
Innovation Solution
A mounted swather with two inclined horizontal rotors that can be front-mounted on a tractor, featuring a configuration with thin flexible pin beams and a locking system to optimize visibility during transport, allowing the rotors to be positioned vertically behind the driver's line of sight, and incorporating detachable guide plates to enhance swathing capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If vertical rotors are used for front mounting, then working width is increased, but transport height increases and stability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor assembly combines vertical rotor elements with horizontal support structures, creating a composite configuration that achieves both wide working coverage and low transport profile. The vertical rotors are mounted on horizontal axles that allow the entire assembly to be lowered during transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotor assembly is designed to change orientation dynamically between working position (vertical rotors for maximum width) and transport position (horizontal rotors for minimum height). This dynamic reconfiguration resolves the contradiction between working width and transport stability.
2Area of stationary object
If vertical rotors with large diameter are used, then working width is sufficient, but transport height increases and driver visibility is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor assembly can be rotated from vertical working position to horizontal transport position, dynamically adjusting the profile to clear the driver's line of sight during road transport while maintaining adequate working width during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves the rotor orientation from the vertical dimension (blocking visibility) to the horizontal dimension (clearing visibility), while maintaining the same working width capability through the rotor's span.
3Productivity
If towed swather configuration is used, then swathing capacity is achieved, but adaptability for simultaneous harvesting is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor assembly is designed to perform multiple functions: it can operate as a standalone swather when towed, or be integrated with a harvester for simultaneous swathing and harvesting operations. The same rotor structure serves both purposes, increasing versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The swather is designed as a modular rotor assembly that can be independently mounted on a trailer for towing operations, or integrated with other harvesting equipment. This segmentation allows flexible configuration for different operational requirements.
4Productivity
If multiple joint points are used for combination with baling press, then swathing capacity increases, but manoeuvring capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor assembly is extracted as a separate, independently mountable unit that can be connected to a single point on the tractor or trailer. This eliminates the need for multiple joint points, simplifying the connection while maintaining swathing capacity through the rotor's inherent design.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A mounted swather used in agriculture for harvesting forage, such as grass, hey or straw, the swather comprising two work units (13,14) of a type of inclined horizontal rotors (10,11) that are hung on a central frame (1), the horizontal rotors (10,11) being provided with rake teeth arranged on bars (17) that are substantially horizontal in a working position, and wherein the rotors (10,11), in connection with installation of the swather in a front lift of a tractor and by means of a locking device (22) in a transport position, may be turned and locked in to a position wherein the pin beams (17) in a driver's view mainly reside behind one another or, alternatively, behind a frame beam (4,5), in order to thus optimize the driver's view ahead.