Side Mower Cutter Bar Pressure Relief Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing side mowers for green forage harvesting face challenges in simplifying articulation mechanisms for both mowing and transport operations, compromising ease of use and occupational safety, particularly during coupling and decoupling from the carrier vehicle.
Innovation Solution
A two-part extension arm design with a rotary joint and hydraulic cylinder system that allows the cutter bar to pivot and lift, enabling ground contact pressure relief and collision protection, while being controlled by a single directional valve for simplified operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single-part extension arm is used, then the structure is simpler, but the ability to relieve ground contact pressure and provide collision protection is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The extension arm is divided into two separate parts: a first extension element connected to the support structure and a second extension element connected to the cutter bar. This segmentation allows independent movement of each element, enabling the cutter bar to pivot backwards during collision while maintaining structural simplicity overall.
2Reliability
If the extension arm is made multi-part with rotary joints, then collision protection and ground pressure relief are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotary joint between the first and second extension elements introduces dynamic movement capability, allowing the cutter bar to pivot backwards when subjected to collision forces. This dynamic response provides collision protection while the joint is designed to be as simple as possible to minimize added complexity.
3Device complexity
If manual operation of the support element is required, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation and occupational safety deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The support element automatically overrides the pretension of the tension spring during the coupling process without requiring manual intervention. The system self-regulates by allowing the cutter bar to naturally move into position, thereby improving ease of operation and occupational safety during coupling and decoupling.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical operation is replaced by an automatic mechanical response where the support element automatically overrides the spring pretension. This substitution eliminates the need for manual handling during coupling, improving safety and ease of operation.
4Device complexity
If the cutter bar is rigidly fixed, then the structure is simpler, but the adaptability to ground relief and collision safety are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cutter bar is mounted to allow dynamic movement through the rotary joint in the extension arm. This enables the cutter bar to adapt to ground relief by moving with the terrain while maintaining a relatively simple mounting structure that doesn't require complex mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances operational simplicity, reduces occupational hazards, and improves ease of use by allowing the cutter bar to lift off obstacles and adjust to ground height, maintaining efficient operation and safety during mowing and transport.
Implementation Method 1
an automatic collision safety device with a force-generating element in the form of a tension spring (45) and an elastic energy store (41) for the prestressing of which a hydropneumatic pressure accumulator (93) acts
Implementation Method 2
a first hydraulic cylinder (31) as an adjusting element for moving the cutter bar (3) into different positions
Implementation Method 3
The cutter blades are first stabilized by the centrifugal force and then mow the green forage without a counter blade
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~2a
Figure 3
AI summary
Mower, especially a side mower for attaching to a lifting device of an agricultural support vehicle, comprises a ground bearing pressure relief system that is rendered ineffective on interruption of the energy flow of the pretension of an energy-storing device (41) between a support construction (4) and a mowing device (3) and simultaneous storage of the pretension within the energy-storing device. Preferred Features: The energy-storing device is a hydropneumatically pretensioned hydraulic cylinder (42) or an elastically deformable pretensioned spring element.