Pivoting Conditioning Roller Assembly for Forage Harvester Servicing

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing conditioning roller assemblies for forage harvesters are complex to dismantle and reassemble, particularly when servicing or replacing the rollers, due to their pivoting and pretensioned designs.

Innovation Solution

The conditioning roller assembly features a pivoting arrangement with a hinge and a resilient pre-tensioning mechanism, where the conditioning rollers are mounted on separate holders that can pivot for easy access and servicing, allowing the rollers to be removed without disassembling the pivoting arrangement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the conditioning roller assembly uses a pivoting arrangement with components connected by a hinge and pretensioned by springs or hydraulic cylinders, then the assembly can accommodate material throughput variations, but the structure becomes more complex and servicing becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of material throughput variationsVSAvoidpivoting arrangement structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The holder is divided into a first holder portion and a second holder portion that can pivot relative to each other about a pivot axis. This segmentation allows the holder to adapt to material throughput variations while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure, as each portion can move independently to accommodate loading conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The holder is designed with dynamic pivoting capability between a closed position (for normal operation) and an open position (for servicing). This dynamic feature allows the assembly to adapt to different operational conditions while providing easy access to conditioning rollers when needed, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of repair

If the conditioning roller assembly uses linear displaceable arrangements, then one component can be folded up for servicing, but the movable roller may tilt when material throughput is not uniform

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent foldability for servicingVSAvoidroller stability during operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The holder is designed with dynamic pivoting capability between a closed position (for normal operation) and an open position (for servicing). This dynamic feature allows the assembly to adapt to different operational conditions while providing easy access to conditioning rollers when needed, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Stability of the object's composition

If the conditioning roller assembly requires dismantling both components including springs and rotary bearings to service one roller, then the pivoting arrangement provides structural stability, but the servicing time and complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepivoting arrangement structural stabilityVSAvoiddismantling and assembly time

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The holder is divided into a first holder portion and a second holder portion that can pivot relative to each other about a pivot axis. This segmentation allows the holder to adapt to material throughput variations while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure, as each portion can move independently to accommodate loading conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The holder is designed with dynamic pivoting capability between a closed position (for normal operation) and an open position (for servicing). This dynamic feature allows the assembly to adapt to different operational conditions while providing easy access to conditioning rollers when needed, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

This design significantly simplifies the dismantling and mounting of conditioning rollers, reducing the time and complexity associated with servicing and maintenance, while maintaining operational efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a resilient arrangement (54) for providing pre-tensioning of the conditioning rollers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS12239050B2Conditioning roller assembly pivotable to open position for servicing

Publication Date: 2025.03.04 DEERE & CO

AI summary

A conditioning roller assembly includes a first conditioning roller which is rotatably mounted on a first holder, a second conditioning roller which is rotatably mounted on a second holder, and a pivoting arrangement which includes a first component and a second component which are connected together by a hinge with an axis extending parallel to the longitudinal axes of the conditioning rollers, and a resilient arrangement for providing pre-tensioning of the conditioning rollers. The first holder and/or the second holder is mounted so as to be pivotable in each case about a pivot axis relative to the associated first component and/or second component for servicing purposes.