Offset Conditioning Roll for Odd-Number Disc Mower Conditioner

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mower-conditioner systems struggle to condition most of the crop material cut by the mower, especially when the cutter bar has an odd number of cutting discs.

Innovation Solution

The agricultural mower conditioner features a cutter bar with an odd number of cutting discs and a conditioning roll that is offset with respect to the centerline, allowing for effective conditioning of most crop material.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If an odd number of cutting discs is used on the cutter bar, then manufacturing costs are reduced and interchangeability is improved, but the conditioning roll cannot effectively condition most of the crop material when centered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing cost and interchangeabilityVSAvoidconditioning effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The conditioning roll is positioned asymmetrically relative to the cutter bar centerline, specifically offset toward one side to align with the gap between cutting discs. This asymmetric positioning allows the conditioning roll to effectively condition crop material from multiple cutting discs even when an odd number of discs are used, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and conditioning effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

2Device complexity

If a centered conditioning roll is used, then the structure is simple and symmetric, but it cannot condition most crop material when there are an odd number of cutting discs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural symmetryVSAvoidcrop material conditioning coverage

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The conditioning roll is deliberately positioned asymmetrically relative to the cutter bar centerline, offset toward one side to align with the gap between cutting discs. This asymmetric positioning enables the conditioning roll to effectively condition crop material from multiple cutting discs, particularly when an odd number of discs are used, thereby resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and conditioning coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

3Productivity

If multiple cutting discs are used to increase cutting width, then productivity increases, but it becomes more difficult to ensure all cut material is conditioned uniformly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecutting widthVSAvoidconditioning uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The conditioning roll is positioned to provide localized conditioning coverage over specific portions of the cutter bar width. By offsetting the conditioning roll from the centerline and aligning it with the gap between cutting discs, the system ensures that each local region of cut material receives appropriate conditioning, thereby maintaining uniformity across the entire cutting width even as productivity increases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12232442B2Agricultural mower conditioner with odd number of cutting discs

Publication Date: 2025.02.25 BLUE LEAF I P INC

AI summary

An agricultural mower conditioner includes: a frame including a tongue coupler and defining a frame width; a cutter bar including an odd number of cutting discs arranged side-by-side across a cutter bar width; and a conditioning roll carried behind the cutter bar, the conditioning roll being offset with respect to a centerline that bisects the frame width and the cutter bar width.