Foldable Shredder Cutter Head With Oscillating Auger Segments
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Towed agricultural shredders and mowers face issues with material accumulation causing stress and misalignment of the feed auger, leading to increased consumption, breakages, and reduced efficiency, as well as space and transport challenges due to their width and size.
Innovation Solution
A foldable cutter head with oscillating feed auger in three or more portions, where each auger segment can vary its position relative to the frame, allowing for synchronized motion and reducing stress on the auger by adjusting the space between the auger and cutting unit based on material accumulation, and can be folded for compact transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the feed auger is arranged in a substantially backward and lifted position to convey material, then material conveyance is improved, but deposits of cut material accumulate in the lower portion of the frame causing increased stress and misalignment of the auger
Solution Approach 1:
The feed auger is divided into three or more independent oscillating segments that can move relative to each other, allowing each segment to independently adjust to material accumulation conditions and reducing stress concentration on any single segment
Solution Approach 2:
The auger segments are made oscillating rather than fixed, allowing them to dynamically adjust their position to accommodate material flow variations and reduce stress from deposits, while maintaining effective material conveyance
2Productivity
If the cutter head is made wider to accommodate the feed auger and cutting unit, then material processing capability is improved, but the machine width exceeds public road circulation limits requiring escort vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The cutter head is divided into multiple foldable portions that can be separated and folded, allowing the machine to maintain a wide working configuration for high productivity while being foldable to a compact configuration for road circulation within legal width limits
Solution Approach 2:
The cutter head portions are made movable and foldable, enabling dynamic transformation between a wide operational configuration for enhanced material processing and a compact folded configuration for road-compliant transport without requiring escort vehicles
3Productivity
If the cutter head is made larger to increase processing capacity, then productivity is improved, but the machine occupies more space in depots and requires bigger storage facilities
Solution Approach 1:
The cutter head is segmented into multiple portions that can be folded together, allowing the machine to occupy a large area during operation for high processing capacity while folding to a compact configuration for efficient depot space utilization
Solution Approach 2:
The cutter head portions are designed to be movable and foldable, enabling the machine to dynamically switch between a large operational footprint for enhanced processing capacity and a compact stored configuration that minimizes depot space requirements
4Reliability
If the operator slows down the machine operation to prevent material accumulation, then auger stress is reduced, but operating time increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The oscillating auger segments dynamically adjust their position to accommodate material flow variations, allowing the machine to maintain high operating speeds while the segments independently manage stress from material accumulation, thus preserving both reliability and productivity
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1a
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention is a cutter head (A) of the foldable type and divided in portions, comprising a fixed or movable centre portion (A1) and one pair of lateral movable portions (A2, A3). Each one of said portions (A1, A2, A3) comprises a frame (F1, F2, F3), a segment of the cutting unit (B1, B2, B3) and a segment of the feed auger (C1, C2, C3), wherein each one of said auger segments (C1, C2, C3) in turn is constrained to the corresponding frame (F1, F2, F3) in an oscillating manner.