Removable Sidewall Panels for Square Baler Compression Chamber

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Solution Overview

Problem

The movement of the plunger within the compression chamber of a square baler causes excessive wear and deformation of the sidewalls, leading to maintenance challenges as existing solutions require significant alterations to the baler frame.

Innovation Solution

The baler features a compression chamber with removable sidewalls, allowing for the replacement of worn panels without altering the underlying frame, using panels removably coupled to the frame via fasteners, minimizing damage and maintaining chamber integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the plunger reciprocates within the compression chamber to compress crop material, then the baling function is performed, but the sidewalls of the compression chamber wear and deform

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebaling functionVSAvoidsidewall integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The compression chamber sidewalls are divided into removable panels that can be independently replaced. The sidewalls consist of multiple panel sections that are detachably coupled to the frame, allowing specific worn panels to be removed and replaced without affecting the entire compression chamber structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sidewalls are designed with changeable parameters through removable panels that can be replaced when worn. This allows the compression chamber to maintain its structural integrity while enabling periodic renewal of the contact surfaces that experience wear during plunger reciprocation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If existing solutions are used to address sidewall wear, then wear protection is achieved, but significant alterations to the baler frame are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesidewall wear protectionVSAvoidframe alterations
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The worn or protective components are extracted as separate removable panels from the main frame structure. These panels can be detached and replaced independently, eliminating the need for significant alterations to the baler frame while still providing wear protection functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The sidewall structure transitions from a fixed, permanent configuration to a dynamic, replaceable system. The panels are designed to be removable and reconfigurable, allowing the system to adapt to wear conditions without requiring permanent modifications to the frame.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of repair

If panels are removably coupled to the frame via fasteners, then maintenance efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepanel replacementVSAvoidfastener system
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The panels are pre-configured with attachment and detachment mechanisms (fasteners) that enable quick maintenance operations. The fastener system is designed in advance to facilitate easy panel removal and replacement, reducing maintenance time and effort despite the added structural components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3763199B1Baler with removable sidewalls
Publication Date: 2023.06.21 DEERE & CO
  • EP3763199B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3763199B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3763199B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A baler including a frame having a first end, and a second end opposite the first end. The baler also having a compression chamber, where the compression chamber defines a central axis extending longitudinally therethrough, a plunger assembly at least partially positioned and movable within the compression chamber, and a panel removably coupled to the frame, and where the panel at least partially defines the compression chamber.