Mower Swathing Unit Axial Radial Ejection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mowing technologies require separate raking steps and conditioning units, leading to increased costs and complexity in crop collection, and often result in crop material being crushed by tractor wheels or restricted pathways.

Innovation Solution

A plain mower with a swathing unit that can be configured to eject crop material either axially or radially, allowing for flexible swath formation and elimination of the need for conditioning units, using disc cutters and adjustable guide plates to control swath width and position, thereby reducing energy requirements and ground compaction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conditioning unit is added to the mower, then the cut crop can be crushed and bruised to aid wilting, but the weight of the mower increases and energy requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewilting efficiencyVSAvoidmower weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the conditioning unit from the mower system entirely. The rear mower unit is designed as a plain mower without any conditioning mechanism, extracting the harmful element (weight and complexity) while still achieving the desired outcome through alternative means (direct swath deposition for drying).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The cut crop is allowed to dry naturally through self-service rather than being mechanically processed. The rear mower deposits the swath in a position that facilitates natural drying, eliminating the need for active conditioning while achieving the same wilting effect.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If conveyor belts are used to transport cut crop inwards, then the swaths can be combined into a single swath, but conditioner units are required which add weight and energy consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveswath collection efficiencyVSAvoidenergy requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes conveyor belts and conditioner units from the system. Instead of mechanically transporting and combining swaths, the rear mower directly deposits cut material in the desired position, eliminating the energy-consuming intermediate handling steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Rather than using conveyor belts to actively transport crop inwards, the system inverts the approach by having the rear mower directly deposit crop in the target location from the outset, reversing the traditional sequence of cutting, transporting, then depositing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Productivity

If the rear mower unit is located between the front and rear wheels of the tractor, then the cut crop can be combined beneath the tractor, but the crop risks being crushed by the tractor wheels

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecrop combining efficiencyVSAvoidcrop damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the harmful element (tractor wheels passing over the swath) by changing the deposition location. The rear mower deposits crop behind the rear wheels rather than between the wheels, extracting the source of crop damage while maintaining combining efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Volume of moving object

If drum mower arrangements are used, then the mower units can be compact, but the pathway for cut crop is restricted which limits mower capacity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemower unit sizeVSAvoidmower capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses disc cutters instead of drum cutters. Disc cutters provide an open pathway for cut material while maintaining a compact mower design, copying the space-saving benefits of drum mowers while eliminating the pathway restriction problem.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

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

Enables efficient and cost-effective crop collection without separate raking, adaptable to various drying conditions, and reduces the risk of crop damage while allowing for flexible swath management, using disc cutters and adjustable guide plates to control swath width and position.

Implementation Method 1

an auger that can be configured to transport the cut crop material either axially or radially so as to form a swath

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRotational motion:

Implementation Method 2

a support frame for a protective cover or skirt, and a cutter bar that carries a plurality of rotary cutter heads

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRotational cutting:

Data Source

PatentEP2829168B2Mower

Publication Date: 2024.06.12 KVERNELAND GROUP KERTEMINDE AS

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AI summary

A plain mower includes a plurality of rotary cutters (8) for cutting a crop and a swathing unit (14) for forming the cut crop material into a swath. The swathing unit (14) includes an auger (16) that rotates about an axis (X) to transport crop material axially through the swathing unit. The swathing unit (14) can be configured in a first configuration in which the crop material is ejected axially from the auger (16), and can be reconfigured in a second configuration in which the crop material is ejected radially from the auger.