Harvesting Device Rake Locking Mechanism for Branch Jam Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Harvesting devices experience jamming issues due to branches getting pinched between rakes, leading to damage and operational inefficiencies, and existing solutions either increase weight or create gaps that can block movement.
Innovation Solution
A locking device with a locking element that moves parallel to the pivot axis of the rake, separating the intermediate spaces by a maximum gap of 5 mm, preventing branches from entering and ensuring branches are not pinched, even with large pivoting angles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a component is arranged in the area between the rake carriers to fill the space, then the harvesting device appears more massive and weight increases, but a gap can form between the component and rake carriers at large swivel angles where branches can become trapped
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device is segmented into multiple locking elements (at least one per rake, preferably two) that are distributed along the rake structure. These segmented locking elements work together to prevent branch passage through the first gap without requiring a single massive component between rake carriers.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking element acts as an intermediary component that mediates between the rakes and branches. It projects into the first gap to block branch passage while being attached to the rake structure, preventing the need for heavy components between rake carriers.
2Reliability
If the locking element is made wide to prevent branch passage, then branch jamming is prevented, but the locking element becomes heavier and more material is required
Solution Approach 1:
The locking element has locally concentrated blocking features at critical positions where branches would pass through the first gap. The width of the locking element varies along its length, being wider at the blocking end and narrower at the attachment end, optimizing material usage while maintaining effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking element's dimensions are optimized by changing its width parameter along its length. The width is sufficient to block branches at the critical blocking position but reduces towards the attachment point, minimizing material usage while maintaining the gap-separating function.
3Ease of manufacture
If the locking element is placed on the rake support rather than the rake, then the design is simpler and manufacturing is easier, but the locking element may be heavier
Solution Approach 1:
The locking element is merged with the rake structure (preferably formed integrally with the rake) rather than being a separate component attached to the rake support. This integration reduces the number of parts and assembly steps while the lightweight design compensates for any attachment complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A harvesting device (1) has two pivotally mounted rakes (15, 16; 45, 46; 65, 66) which can be pivoted between a position (27) pivoted towards each other and a position (28) pivoted away from each other. In a viewing direction (50) parallel to a pivot axis (41) of a rake (15, 16; 45, 46; 65, 66), a first gap (29) and a second gap (30) are formed in the position (27) pivoted towards each other of the rakes (15, 16; 45, 46; 65, 66). The first gap (29) is at least partially bounded by the rake supports (40) and by a drive element (43), and the second gap (30) is at least partially bounded by an inner finger (17) of the first rake (15, 45, 65) and an inner finger (18) of the second rake (16, 46, 66). To prevent branches or the like from being caught,In order to enable the harvesting device (1) to enter the first space (29), it is provided that the harvesting device (1) has a locking device (33, 53, 73) which includes at least one locking element (34, 35; 54, 55; 74, 75) moved by a rake (15, 16; 45, 46; 65, 66) and which projects in the direction of view (50) parallel to a pivot axis (41) of a rake (15, 16; 45, 46; 65, 55) between the first space (29) and the second space (30). The locking device (33, 53, 73) separates the first space (29) and the second space (30) in each position of the rakes (15, 16; 45, 46; 65, 66) such that the spaces (29, 30) are connected to each other in this direction of view (50) by a gap of no more than 5 mm.For a rake (15, 16; 45, 46; 65, 66) for a harvesting device (1) a locking element (34, 35; 54, 55; 74, 75) is provided, which extends from one side of the inner finger (17, 18), and whose width (b) is measured in a viewing direction perpendicular to a median plane (39) and perpendicular to the inside (26) of the inner finger (17, 18) and is at least 10 mm.