Retractable Crop Engaging Rows for Harvester Visibility and Gathering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing combine harvesters face challenges in efficiently gathering and processing crops due to limitations in the movement and adjustability of crop engaging members, which affect harvesting efficiency and visibility during operation.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of crop engaging members with adjustable angles and heights, supported by extension members that move between extended and retracted positions, driven by a source of motion such as cams and motors, allowing for synchronized movement and improved crop gathering and visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If crop engaging members are extended forward to improve crop gathering efficiency, then harvesting productivity increases, but the implement profile height increases making towing more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The crop engaging members are designed to be dynamically adjustable between extended and retracted positions. The extension members can move the crop engaging members forward during harvesting to improve crop gathering efficiency, and retract them when not in use to lower the implement profile for easier towing and improved operator visibility.
2Ease of operation
If crop engaging members are retracted to improve operator visibility and reduce profile, then ease of operation improves, but crop gathering efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows dynamic positioning of crop engaging members between extended and retracted states. During active harvesting, members are extended to maximize crop engagement. When not in use or during transport, they are retracted to improve operator visibility and reduce implement profile, thus resolving the contradiction between operational efficiency and ease of operation.
3Device complexity
If crop engaging members are fixed in position to simplify structure, then device complexity reduces, but adaptability to different crop conditions decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements adjustable crop engaging members that can change their position and orientation dynamically. The extension members allow the crop engaging members to be positioned at different angles and heights depending on crop conditions, providing adaptability while maintaining a relatively simple structural design through the use of standardized mechanical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables changes in key parameters such as the position, angle, and height of crop engaging members to adapt to different crop types and harvesting conditions. This allows the same implement to handle various crop scenarios by adjusting these parameters rather than requiring completely different structures for each condition.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided in an implement for a harvesting machine. The implement may include a plurality of crop engaging members extending from at least one crop engaging member support. The crop engaging member support may also be joined to at least one extension member, which in turn may also be joined to a motion transferring member that transfers motion from at least one source of motion. The motion transferring member may be configured to move the crop engaging member support and plurality of crop engaging members between extended and retracted positions. The implement may include at least first and second rows of crop engaging members. The first and second rows of crop engaging members may revolve about each other as the first and second rows of crop engaging members move between extended and retracted positions.