Movable Shredder Pan for Combine Harvester Service Access
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional shredder assemblies in agricultural harvesters are difficult to service due to their internal location, requiring operators to enter the combine and increasing the overall weight when attempting to mount them near ground level for easier access.
Innovation Solution
A shredder pan that can be moved towards the rear of the combine using track followers, allowing operators to access components externally without entering the vehicle, reducing the need for special tools and improving weight distribution for road transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the shredder assembly is mounted internally within the combine harvester, then the overall weight is reduced and weight distribution is improved, but the ease of service is worsened as operators must enter the combine to access components
Solution Approach 1:
The shredder pan is made movable between an operating position (internally located for weight efficiency) and a servicing position (externally accessible). The pan can be moved along a track system using track followers, allowing it to transition from being fixed internally to being accessible from the rear of the combine during maintenance operations.
2Ease of operation
If the shredder assembly is mounted near ground level for external access, then the ease of service is improved, but the overall weight is significantly increased and weight distribution is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of permanently mounting the heavy shredder assembly at ground level, the system uses a movable pan that can be positioned internally during operation to maintain optimal weight distribution, and only moved externally when servicing is required.
3Ease of operation
If the shredder assembly is mounted near ground level for external access, then the ease of service is improved, but the weight distribution is worsened affecting rear axle weight for road transport
Solution Approach 1:
The shredder pan is designed to be repositionable between internal and external locations. During normal operation, it remains in an internal position that optimizes weight distribution and axle loading. During maintenance, it can be moved to an external position for accessibility without permanently altering the vehicle's weight distribution characteristics.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
An agricultural vehicle (10) includes: a chassis (12) defining a rear (92); a header (18) carried by the chassis (12) and configured to collect crop material from a field; and a shredding assembly (70) carried by the chassis (12) that receives crop material collected by the header (18). The shredding assembly (70) includes: a shredder (72) configured to shred received crop material; and a shredder pan (78, 110) carried by the chassis (12) under the shredder (72) and including a shred assister (80) configured to cooperate with the shredder (72) to shred crop material. The agricultural vehicle (10) is characterized by a track (90, 116, 140, 170) carried by the chassis (12) and the shredder pan (78, 110) including at least one track follower (88, 89, 142, 172) in contact with the track (90, 116, 140, 170) that allows the shredder pan (78, 110) to move along the track (90, 116, 140, 170) toward the rear (92) of the chassis (12).