Independent Reel Arm Control for Harvester Headers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional reel assemblies in combine harvesters are limited by a hydraulic system that controls multiple reel arms synchronously, making it difficult to manage varying crop conditions across the header width, leading to inefficient crop engagement.
Innovation Solution
A parallel hydraulic circuit system with independent control valves and swapping valves for each reel arm allows for independent movement, enabling each reel arm to be raised, lowered, tilted, or positioned relative to the ground to match the crop canopy contour.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If multiple reel arms are controlled synchronously by a single hydraulic system, then the system complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to varying crop conditions across the header width deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The reel assembly is divided into multiple independently controllable reel arms (first reel arm, second reel arm, third reel arm), each with its own hydraulic cylinder and control valve. This segmentation allows each reel arm to be adjusted independently to match varying crop conditions across the header width, resolving the contradiction between system simplicity and adaptability.
2Productivity
If the reel is lowered to engage down crop, then the crop engagement is improved, but the engagement with standing crop becomes excessive
Solution Approach 1:
Each reel arm can be independently positioned to create different local engagement characteristics. Reel arms over down crop areas can be lowered to improve engagement, while reel arms over standing crop areas maintain higher positions to avoid excessive engagement. This local quality adjustment resolves the contradiction between improving down crop engagement and preventing standing crop damage.
3Adaptability or versatility
If each reel arm is controlled independently with separate hydraulic circuits, then the adaptability to ground contour is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic system is segmented into separate circuits for each reel arm, with individual control valves and swapping valves. This segmentation enables independent control of each reel arm to match ground contour variations, achieving high adaptability despite the increased system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates dynamic control capabilities through swapping valves that can switch between different hydraulic circuits, allowing each reel arm to respond dynamically to varying ground conditions. The controller coordinates these dynamic adjustments across multiple reel arms to maintain optimal engagement throughout the header width.
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 solution allows for precise engagement of the crop canopy regardless of ground contour, improving crop handling by enabling independent control of each reel arm, enhancing harvesting efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The reel arm assembly includes a hydraulic circuit operatively connected to the first pair of hydraulic cylinders and the second pair of hydraulic cylinders
Data Source
AI summary
An agricultural harvester header with a reel having two or more reel arms that support the reel at either end of one or more reel segments. The positions of each reel arm can be independently controlled such that each reel segment can be raised lowered, tilted left, or tilted right to optimally engage oncoming crop canopy contour regardless of ground contour.