Pivoting Assembly for Row Crop Head Wing Folding

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing row crop heads face challenges in efficiently folding and unfolding their wings without damaging the crop dividers and require complex mechanisms with separate actuators for raising and lowering the dividers, which increases cost, weight, and complexity.

Innovation Solution

A pivoting assembly with a rotatable locking component that automatically secures the crop divider into a folded position during wing folding and lowers it during unfolding, using a simplified construction with few parts and no separate power source for the divider movement, allowing the wing frame's rotation to control the divider's position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a complex mechanism with separate actuators is used for raising and lowering crop dividers, then the crop dividers can be controlled independently, but the cost, weight, and complexity of the row head increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent control of crop dividersVSAvoidcomplexity of actuator mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the crop divider positioning function with the wing folding mechanism. The crop dividers are attached to the wing frame and move automatically with wing folding/unfolding, eliminating the need for separate actuators. This merging reduces device complexity while maintaining operational control through the integrated mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The crop dividers are designed to self-position automatically during wing folding and unfolding operations. The dividers move passively with the wing frame motion, using the wing's own movement to control the dividers without requiring additional power sources or control systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If a complex mechanism with separate actuators is used for raising and lowering crop dividers, then the crop dividers can be controlled independently, but the weight of the row head increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent control of crop dividersVSAvoidweight of row head

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the crop divider positioning function with the wing folding mechanism. The crop dividers are attached to the wing frame and move automatically with wing folding/unfolding, eliminating the need for separate actuators. This merging reduces device complexity while maintaining operational control through the integrated mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The crop dividers are designed to self-position automatically during wing folding and unfolding operations. The dividers move passively with the wing frame motion, using the wing's own movement to control the dividers without requiring additional power sources or control systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If the wing frame is folded without a pivoting assembly, then the structure is simpler, but the crop divider may be damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of folding structureVSAvoiddamage to crop divider

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The pivoting assembly provides dynamic control of the crop divider during wing folding. The assembly allows the divider to pivot and follow the wing's motion trajectory, adjusting its position continuously during the folding process to avoid damage while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The pivoting assembly acts as an intermediary mechanism between the wing frame and crop divider. It mediates the motion transfer, allowing the rigid wing folding motion to be converted into a controlled pivoting motion of the crop divider, protecting it from damage while keeping the overall structure simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3881668B1Pivoting apparatus for row head

Publication Date: 2022.11.09 DEERE & CO

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AI summary

Row crop heads (14) and pivoting assemblies (48) associated with the row crop heads (14) operable to displace a crop divider (34) of the row crop heads (14) during folding of a portion of the row crop head (14) are disclosed. In some implementations, a pivoting assembly (48) may include a first bracket (58) coupled to a center frame (42) of a row crop head (14), a second bracket (60) coupled to a wing frame (44) of the row crop head (14), and a rotatable locking component (64) rotatably coupled to the first bracket (58). The rotatable locking component (64) is operable to lock a row divider disposed at an interface between the wing frame (44) and the center frame (42) when the wing frame (44) is moved from an unfolded position to a folded position relative to the center frame (42).