Reel Sensor Arm Mounting for Ground-Relative Orientation

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing agricultural headers face challenges in maintaining the orientation of sensors or light sources relative to the ground as the reel assembly moves, affecting the accuracy of terrain feature detection and illumination during harvesting.

Innovation Solution

A device mounting assembly is integrated into the reel assembly, utilizing a gimbal or mass-damper configuration to maintain the orientation of sensors or light sources relative to the ground, ensuring consistent detection and illumination despite the reel's movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the reel assembly moves to adjust the position of the reel relative to the frame, then the adaptability of the header to different crop conditions is improved, but the orientation of sensors or light sources relative to the ground changes, worsening the measurement precision and illumination consistency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereel position adjustmentVSAvoidterrain feature detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The device mounting assembly uses a mass-damper configuration where a mass is positioned to counteract the rotational movement of the reel arm. The mass creates a counterbalancing moment that opposes the gravitational torque acting on the device, thereby maintaining the device's orientation relative to the ground even as the reel arm rotates to different positions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the physical state of the mounting assembly by introducing a movable mass that can be positioned at different locations along the arm. By adjusting the mass position parameter, the system dynamically compensates for orientation changes, allowing the device to maintain constant ground-relative orientation despite reel arm rotation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the reel assembly moves to adjust the position of the reel relative to the frame, then the adaptability of the header to different crop conditions is improved, but the orientation of light sources relative to the ground changes, worsening the illumination consistency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereel position adjustmentVSAvoidillumination consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The device mounting assembly uses a mass-damper configuration where a mass is positioned to counteract the rotational movement of the reel arm. The mass creates a counterbalancing moment that opposes the gravitational torque acting on the device, thereby maintaining the device's orientation relative to the ground even as the reel arm rotates to different positions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the physical state of the mounting assembly by introducing a movable mass that can be positioned at different locations along the arm. By adjusting the mass position parameter, the system dynamically compensates for orientation changes, allowing the device to maintain constant ground-relative orientation despite reel arm rotation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If a fixed mounting structure is used for sensors or light sources on the reel arm, then the device complexity is reduced, but the stability of the device orientation relative to the ground deteriorates as the reel arm rotates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting structure simplicityVSAvoiddevice orientation stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The device mounting assembly uses a mass-damper configuration where a mass is positioned to counteract the rotational movement of the reel arm. The mass creates a counterbalancing moment that opposes the gravitational torque acting on the device, thereby maintaining the device's orientation relative to the ground even as the reel arm rotates to different positions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the physical state of the mounting assembly by introducing a movable mass that can be positioned at different locations along the arm. By adjusting the mass position parameter, the system dynamically compensates for orientation changes, allowing the device to maintain constant ground-relative orientation despite reel arm rotation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 device mounting assembly ensures accurate monitoring of terrain features and effective illumination by stabilizing the orientation of sensors and light sources, enhancing the harvesting process's efficiency and precision.

Implementation Method 1

A device mounting assembly is integrated into the reel assembly, utilizing a gimbal or mass-damper configuration to maintain the orientation of sensors or light sources relative to the ground

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGimbal: Gimbal

Implementation Method 2

A device mounting assembly is integrated into the reel assembly, utilizing a gimbal or mass-damper configuration to maintain the orientation of sensors or light sources relative to the ground

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMass-damper: Tuned Mass Damper

Data Source

PatentUS12575498B2Reel assembly with retractable sensor arm for an agricultural header

Publication Date: 2026.03.17 CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC

AI summary

A reel assembly for an agricultural header including a reel arm configured to rotatably couple to a frame of the agricultural header and configured to support a reel of the reel assembly. The reel assembly further includes a device mounting assembly coupled to the reel arm and configured to support a device that is configured to monitor a terrain feature. The device mounting assembly is configured to maintain an orientation between the device and a ground on which the agricultural header is positioned as the reel arm rotates relative to the frame of the agricultural header.