Roller-Based Pivot Mechanism for Agricultural Header Friction Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Agricultural vehicle attachments, such as headers, face significant friction and wear issues during rotational movement over uneven surfaces due to conventional pin-based systems, requiring excessive force for smooth operation.

Innovation Solution

A pivotably adjustable attachment apparatus with a roller or apparatus positioned between the mounting structure and adapter assembly, providing a substantially non-sliding contact through a recessed region with a tapered profile, allowing for reduced friction and easier rotational movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a large pin is used to provide rotational movement between the header and the combine, then the structural strength is sufficient, but the friction and wear between contact surfaces increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidfriction and wear

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A low-friction material layer is inserted as an intermediary between the contact surfaces of the pin and the mounting structure/adapter assembly. This intermediary layer reduces the coefficient of friction at the contact interface, thereby reducing wear and the force required for rotational movement while the pin itself maintains structural strength

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the traditional sliding friction-based rotational mechanism with a rolling contact mechanism. By introducing rollers or a tapered profile that enables rolling motion between the pin and contact surfaces, the system substitutes high-friction sliding contact with low-friction rolling contact, significantly reducing wear and operational force requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If a layer of low-friction material is inserted between contact surfaces, then the coefficient of friction is reduced, but great amounts of force are still required to achieve desired rotational movement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoefficient of frictionVSAvoidforce required for rotational movement

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a tapered profile or curved surface geometry between the pin and contact surfaces. This curved geometry enables rolling contact instead of sliding contact, where the contact point moves along the curved surface during rotation. The rolling motion dramatically reduces friction and the force required for rotational movement compared to sliding contact, even with low-friction materials

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Stability of the object's composition

If conventional pin-based rotational movement is used, then the structural connection is stable, but excessive force is required and wear is significant

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural connection stabilityVSAvoidease of rotational movement

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the sliding friction mechanism with a rolling contact mechanism using rollers or tapered profiles. This substitution maintains the structural stability of the pin connection while dramatically improving ease of operation by reducing the force required for rotational movement and minimizing wear between contact surfaces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 apparatus enables a pivotable movement of agricultural vehicle attachments with reduced force requirements and minimized wear, ensuring efficient operation on uneven surfaces.

Implementation Method 1

An apparatus, such as a roller, is positioned between the mounting structure and the adapter assembly

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRolling contact: Roller

Implementation Method 2

The contact surfaces associated with the relative rotational movement of the header with respect to other combine components is a source of friction and wear

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction reduction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS9717181B2Pivotably adjustable attachment apparatus for agricultural vehicle

Publication Date: 2017.08.01 BLUE LEAF I P INC

AI summary

A pivotably adjustable attachment apparatus for an agricultural vehicle includes an attachment connected to a mounting structure. The mounting structure is operatively connected to an adapter assembly in communication with a feed device for moving a crop from the attachment to a feed device for further processing of the crop. A frame supports the feed device over an uneven surface. An apparatus is positioned between the mounting structure and the adapter assembly. The apparatus provides a substantially non-sliding contact between the mounting structure and the adapter assembly in response to the mounting structure being directed to a pivotable movement with respect to the mounting structure, thereby providing a pivotable movement of the attachment in response to encountering the uneven surface.