Rotatable Operator Station for Rearward Combine Transport

Solution Overview

Problem

Agricultural machines, such as combine harvesters, face challenges in transporting with attached implements due to obstructed forward and rearward visibility, which limits their ability to move along roads safely without disassembling the implement.

Innovation Solution

A rotatable operator station with a rear-facing orientation and a perception system using image capture devices to provide a virtual environment for the operator, allowing the machine to be maneuvered in a conventional forward direction while facing rearward, thus enabling safe transport with attached implements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the operator station faces forward during transport, then the operator can see the road ahead, but the implement blocks the view and prevents safe operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The operator station is rotated 180 degrees so the operator faces rearward during transport instead of forward. This inversion allows the operator to see behind the machine where there is no obstruction, while the implement remains attached. The system uses rear-facing image capture devices and displays to provide the operator with a virtual view of the area behind the machine.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

Image capture devices and display systems serve as intermediaries between the operator and the road environment. The capture devices mounted on the machine capture images of the area behind and around the machine, and the displays present these images to the operator in the operator station, creating a virtual viewing environment that compensates for the reversed orientation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the machine travels forward with the operator facing forward, then the operator has natural visibility, but the implement width prevents transport along roads

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The machine operates in reverse during transport with the operator station rotated 180 degrees. This allows the narrow rear end of the machine to lead during transport, enabling passage through road constraints that would block the wider front end with the implement attached.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the operator station is fixed forward-facing, then the structure is simple, but the machine cannot safely transport with implements attached

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The operator station is made dynamically reconfigurable through rotation capability. The operator station can rotate between a forward-facing position for field operations and a rearward-facing position for transport operations. This dynamic adjustment allows the same physical structure to adapt to different operational requirements without permanent modification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The operator station serves multiple functions: it provides forward-facing operation during field work and rearward-facing operation during transport. The image capture and display system also serves dual purposes, providing virtual viewing during transport and can potentially assist during field operations. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems for different operational modes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Loss of time

If the machine disconnects implements before transport, then visibility is improved, but time and cost increase due to disassembly and reassembly

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of disconnecting implements to improve visibility, the system inverts the operator's orientation to face rearward. This allows the implements to remain connected during transport, eliminating the time and labor required for disconnection and reconnection while maintaining operator visibility through the rear-facing display system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS12545150B2Rotatable operator station of a work machine

Publication Date: 2026.02.10

AI summary

The present disclosure is directed to apparatuses, system, and methods for rotating an operator station relative to another portion of an agricultural machine, such as a frame of the agricultural machine, to facilitate transport of the agricultural machine from one location to another. Transportation of the agricultural machine in this may include moving the agricultural machine in a direction that is conventionally considered to be the reverse direction of the agricultural machine. The operator station may include a cab of the agricultural machine or a portion of the cab, and the operator station may include one or more displays for displaying one or more images captured by an image capture device that is directed rearwardly of the agricultural machine.