Segmented Plant-Cutting Blade Support Bar for Vibration Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cutting assemblies for plant-cutting machines are heavy, leading to vibrations that reduce longevity and increase maintenance costs, and are difficult to break down for shipping and storage, with individual blade repairs requiring removal of the entire knife.

Innovation Solution

A cutting assembly with an elongate blade support bar divided into interlocking segments, allowing for efficient repair and replacement of individual blades by releasing fasteners and spanning bars, reducing mass and vibration, and facilitating easier shipping and storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If a single long knife with multiple blades is used, then the cutting assembly can cover a wide cutting width, but the mass increases significantly causing vibrations and reduced longevity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecutting width coverageVSAvoidknife mass

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting assembly is divided into multiple independent blade sections (first blade section, second blade section, third blade section) that can be individually supported and replaced. Each blade section is mounted on its own support bar segment, allowing the long cutting assembly to be segmented into manageable sections rather than a single heavy monolithic structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Length of moving object

If a single long knife is used, then continuous cutting coverage is achieved, but repair of individual blades requires removal of the entire knife

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecutting continuityVSAvoidindividual blade repair

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

Each blade section is independently mounted on its own support bar segment with separate fastening mechanisms. This allows individual blade sections to be removed and replaced without affecting other blade sections, enabling localized repair while maintaining cutting continuity across the entire assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The blade sections are extracted from a monolithic knife structure and mounted as separate replaceable units on the support bar. This extraction allows individual blade sections to be independently accessed, removed, and replaced while the remaining blade sections continue to function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Length of moving object

If a single long knife is used, then complete cutting coverage is maintained, but shipping and storage become difficult due to size and weight

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecutting coverageVSAvoidshipping and storage

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The support bar is divided into multiple segments (first support bar segment, second support bar segment, third support bar segment) that can be independently manufactured and assembled. This segmentation allows the components to be shipped separately in smaller packages and assembled on-site, avoiding the logistics challenges of transporting a single large heavy knife.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The blade sections can be nested or stacked within each other when not in use, with smaller blade sections fitting within the footprint of larger ones. This nesting capability significantly reduces storage space requirements while maintaining the ability to deploy the full cutting width when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

4Strength

If a heavy single knife is used, then structural strength is sufficient, but vibrations increase causing wear and tear

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidvibrations

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the cutting assembly into multiple independently supported blade sections, the mass distribution is optimized. Each segment can be sized appropriately for its specific cutting width requirement, avoiding the excessive mass of a single long knife while maintaining sufficient structural strength through proper support bar design and fastening.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS7861505B1Reduced-weight plant-cutting assembly for a header

Publication Date: 2011.01.04 BLUE LEAF I P INC

AI summary

A cutting assembly for a header of a plant-cutting machine has an elongate blade support bar including a first elongate segment that can engage a second elongate segment by interlocking. Overlying the elongate blade support bar is a plurality of blade sections, including first sub-plurality of blade sections overlying a first lengthwise portion of the first elongate segment, and a second sub-plurality of blade sections overlying a second lengthwise portion of the first elongate segment and a third lengthwise portion of the second elongate segment. An elongate attach bar overlies the first sub-plurality of blade sections, and a spanning bar overlies the second sub-plurality of blade sections.