Pivotable Crop Attachment Steering for Harvesting Maneuverability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Self-propelled agricultural harvesting machines face difficulties in maneuvering and traction on challenging ground conditions due to the limited width of crop attachments, which are not fully supported and steered by driven ground-contacting means.
Innovation Solution
The machine features a crop attachment pivotable about a vertical axis, supported by steerable and drivable ground-contacting means connected to the steering control device, allowing for active steering and improved traction, reducing ground compaction and eliminating the need for a separate actuator for pivoting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the crop attachment is made wider to increase harvesting capacity, then the productivity is improved, but the machine's ability to maneuver on difficult ground conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The crop attachment is divided into multiple independently steerable and driven ground-contacting units (wheels or tracks) distributed across the width of the attachment. Each unit can be controlled separately, allowing the wide attachment to navigate difficult terrain by adjusting the position and orientation of individual segments, thus maintaining both width for productivity and maneuverability for ease of operation.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the crop attachment is rigidly attached to increase structural stability, then the stability of the object's composition is improved, but the adaptability to ground contour deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The crop attachment employs dynamically controllable ground-contacting means with independent steering and drive capabilities. The position and orientation of each ground-contacting unit can be actively adjusted in real-time based on ground conditions, allowing the attachment to adapt to ground contours while maintaining overall structural stability through coordinated control of multiple units.
3Ease of operation
If separate actuators are added to pivot the crop attachment about vertical axis, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The steering and driving functions are merged into the ground-contacting means themselves. Each ground-contacting unit is equipped with both steering capability (to change orientation) and drive capability (to provide propulsion), eliminating the need for separate actuators to pivot the crop attachment. This integration reduces device complexity while maintaining ease of operation through coordinated control of the multi-functional ground-contacting units.
Data Source
AI summary
A self-propelled harvesting machine includes a chassis supported on driven front ground wheels and steerable rear ground wheels. A crop harvesting attachment is supported on steerable driven wheels and is mounted to the front of the harvesting machine for pivoting about an upright axis. The harvesting attachment delivers harvested crop to an intermediate conveyor which feeds the crop to an input conveyor of the harvesting machine. The harvesting attachment includes a power-operated steering actuator and is steered by a steering control device of the harvesting machine.