Removable Crusher Blades for Forage Harvester Recutter

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing re-cutting devices in forage harvesters face difficulties in efficiently replacing worn-out trimming knives, as they are typically fastened to the chopper drum's housing with multiple screws and nuts, making the process time-consuming and cumbersome.

Innovation Solution

A re-crushing device with flat re-cutting knives equipped with sharpened edges and transverse openings, where multiple knives can be attached and detached using a single fastening element, allowing for simplified replacement by securing them to a holder that can be easily mounted and adjusted adjacent to the chopper drum's circle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple screws and nuts are used to fasten trimming knives to the chopper drum housing, then the trimming knives are securely fixed, but the replacement process becomes time-consuming and cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure fixation of trimming knivesVSAvoidtime for replacing trimming knives
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple trimming knives are merged into a single replaceable unit or group that can be fastened and replaced as one assembly. The patent shows that several trimming knives are arranged on a common mounting structure with shared fastening elements, allowing simultaneous fixation of multiple knives with fewer fasteners, thereby reducing replacement time while maintaining secure fixation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The trimming knife assembly is segmented into modular units that can be independently removed and replaced. The patent depicts trimming knives mounted on separate brackets or holders that can be quickly detached from the chopper drum housing, enabling rapid replacement without disturbing adjacent components or requiring multiple fastening operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If individual fastening elements are assigned to each trimming knife, then each knife can be independently secured, but the number of fasteners increases making replacement more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent securing of each knifeVSAvoidnumber of fastening elements
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple fastening functions into shared fastening elements. Instead of one screw per knife, a single fastener secures multiple trimming knives simultaneously through a common mounting structure, reducing the total number of fasteners while maintaining independent securability of each knife through the shared fastening system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The fastening elements are designed with universal functionality to secure multiple different trimming knives. The patent shows standardized fasteners and mounting brackets that can accommodate various knife configurations, allowing the same fastening mechanism to serve multiple purposes and reduce the variety and number of fastening components needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP1849348B1Fine crushing device with removable crusher blades
Publication Date: 2008.11.26 DEERE & CO
  • EP1849348B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1849348B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1849348B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The device has recutter blades (64) that are detachably affixed at a carrier (70) by an attachment unit (86). Blades are attachable adjacent to a circumscribed circle of chopper blades of a chopper cylinder of a self propelled forage harvester. The attachment unit extends through openings (82) of the recutter blades, so that the multiple recutter blades are simultaneously affixed at the carrier. The carrier has a plate (78) with slits (80), through which the recutter blades extend, and the attachment unit is connected with the plate in a force-fit and form-fit manner.