Harvester Reel Anti-Wrap Baffle for Cam Track Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Crop material tends to collect and wrap around the cam track and cam followers of harvesting reels, leading to poor crop handling at the lateral ends, as existing designs fail to effectively deflect material during rotation.
Innovation Solution
A baffle is integrated proximate to the cam follower, positioned between the cam track and support members, deflecting crop material and preventing accumulation by spanning and overlapping the cam followers, thereby guiding the crop material away from the cam track and support members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the reel rotates to guide crop material, then crop handling is improved, but crop material collects and wraps around the cam track and followers at lateral ends
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful accumulation of crop material around the cam track and followers is extracted or removed from the system by introducing a baffle that actively deflects crop material away from these components, preventing the wrapping problem while maintaining the reel's rotational crop guidance function
Solution Approach 2:
A baffle is introduced as an intermediary component between the rotating reel and the cam track/followers. This baffle acts as a mediator that redirects crop material flow, allowing the reel to continue rotating for crop guidance while preventing material from reaching and wrapping around the cam mechanism
2Productivity
If the cam track guides support members for optimized tine path, then harvesting efficiency is improved, but crop material accumulates at lateral ends about the cam track
Solution Approach 1:
The accumulation of crop material at the lateral ends about the cam track is prevented by using the baffle to redirect material flow away from this region, effectively removing the accumulation problem while preserving the cam track's optimized guidance function for support members
Solution Approach 2:
The baffle serves as an intermediary structure positioned to intercept crop material before it can accumulate about the cam track. It mediates between the rotating reel that generates material flow and the cam track that requires clear access for optimal operation, directing material along an alternative path
Data Source
AI summary
A reel assembly (200) for a header of a combine harvester is provided. The reel is guided by a cam assembly (300). A baffle (408) is provided to the reel assembly (200) and incorporated into the cam assembly (300) to deflect crop material away from the cam assembly.