Agricultural Reel Cam System Rear Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
The cam track in existing reel systems extends in front of the tine tube, impeding crop flow and reducing the gathering rate of agricultural headers during operation.
Innovation Solution
A cam track design with a rear portion having a greater cam distance than the front portion, positioned behind the tine bar, allowing the tines to gather and deliver crop material without impediment, and incorporating a roller that follows the cam track to enhance tine movement and prevent crop wrapping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cam track extends in front of the tine tube to control tine movement, then the tine pivoting control is improved, but the crop material gathering rate is reduced due to impediment of crop flow
Solution Approach 1:
The cam track is extracted from its conventional position extending in front of the tine tube and repositioned to a location behind the tine bar. This extraction removes the harmful interference with crop flow while preserving the cam track's essential function of controlling tine pivoting through the roller-follower mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam track is repositioned from a forward-extending configuration to a rearward-positioned configuration, changing its spatial dimension relative to the tine bar. This dimensional repositioning allows the cam track to control tine movement without obstructing the crop material path in front of the tine bar.
2Ease of operation
If the cam track is positioned to control tine movement effectively, then the tine rotation control is improved, but the crop material path is obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The roller acts as an intermediary element that transmits the cam track's control function to the tine bar without requiring direct contact between the cam track and the crop material path. The roller follows the cam track profile and converts it into rotational motion of the tine bar, mediating the control function while eliminating the harmful obstruction.
3Ease of operation
If the cam track extends forward to provide control function, then the control mechanism is improved, but the gathering efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful forward extension of the cam track is extracted and removed from the system. The cam track is repositioned behind the tine bar, extracting only the necessary control function while eliminating the harmful forward extension that impeded crop flow and reduced gathering efficiency.
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
The solution prevents crop flow impediment, enhances gathering efficiency, and reduces wrappage by ensuring the cam track does not obstruct the crop material path, allowing for effective ingathering and transport of agricultural products.
Implementation Method 1
A roller is rotatably coupled to the first link, with the roller rollingly following the cam track
Data Source
AI summary
An agricultural processing system including a chassis with a header coupled to the chassis. The header provides for the ingathering of agricultural product into the processing system. The header including a reel system having a plurality of arms rotationally coupled to the header. The plurality of arms include a first arm and a second arm. There is a cam track coupled to the header. The first link is pivotally coupled to the first arm and a roller is rotatably coupled to the first link, with the roller rollingly following the cam track. A tine bar is pivotally coupled to the second arm. The second link is pivotally coupled to both the first link and to the tine bar.