Shiftable Harvester Pulley Assembly With Axial Tooth Re-Engagement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional pulley assemblies for agricultural harvesters require significant effort and time to switch between high-speed and low-speed configurations, often necessitating the removal and reinstallation of the entire pulley, which can lead to incorrect positioning and increased risk of damage.

Innovation Solution

A pulley assembly with three sets of teeth that can be configured between high-speed and low-speed modes by disengagement, movement, and re-engagement, allowing for switching between configurations without removing the pulley from the shaft, ensuring correct positioning and reducing the need for replacing entire pulley assemblies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the pulley is removed and reinstalled to switch between high-speed and low-speed configurations, then the speed can be changed, but the effort and time required increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeed configurationVSAvoidtime to switch configurations

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The pulley is divided into two separate pulleys (high-speed pulley and low-speed pulley) that can be independently selected. Each pulley has its own running surface with a different diameter, allowing the user to switch between speeds by selecting the appropriate pulley without removing the entire assembly from the shaft.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pulley assembly is designed to perform multiple functions through a single unified structure. The assembly includes both high-speed and low-speed pulleys with different running surfaces, allowing the same assembly to provide both speed configurations. The shaft can accommodate either pulley type, making the assembly universally applicable for both operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the pulley is removed and reinstalled to switch between high-speed and low-speed configurations, then the speed can be changed, but the risk of incorrect positioning and damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeed configurationVSAvoidpositioning accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The high-speed and low-speed pulleys are designed with asymmetric features including different running surface diameters and distinct mounting configurations. The shaft has corresponding asymmetric mounting features that ensure each pulley can only be correctly installed in one orientation, eliminating the risk of incorrect positioning when switching between speed configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

3Adaptability or versatility

If the front wheel is removed to access the pulley, then the pulley can be changed, but the process becomes cumbersome and inconvenient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepulley replacementVSAvoidpulley accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The pulley assembly is segmented into removable pulley components that can be independently accessed and replaced. The design allows the pulley to be detached from the shaft without requiring removal of the entire front wheel assembly, improving accessibility and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Device complexity

If a single pulley is used for both high-speed and low-speed configurations, then the structure is simpler, but the ability to provide different speeds is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepulley structureVSAvoidspeed variability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3714673B1Pulley assembly for an agricultural harvester

Publication Date: 2022.01.19 CNH IND BELGIUM NV

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AI summary

A pulley assembly (10) is provided for mounting on a rotatable shaft of an agricultural harvester and is operable in a high-speed configuration or a low-speed configuration. The pulley assembly (10) comprise a high-speed pulley (16) with a high-speed running surface (36) for receiving a drive belt (14) when the pulley assembly (10) is in the high-speed configuration and a low-speed pulley (18) with a low-speed running surface (62) for receiving a drive belt (15) when the pulley assembly (10) is in the low-speed configuration. The pulley assembly (10) has three sets of teeth (68, 50, 52) extending from surfaces of the two pulleys (16, 18). In the low-speed configuration, the running surfaces (36, 62) of the low-speed pulley (18) and high-speed pulley (16) are axially aligned and the first set of teeth (68) and the second set of teeth (50) are engaged. In the high-speed configuration, the running surface (36) of the high-speed pulley (16) is exposed for receiving the drive belt (14), while the low-speed pulley (18) is positioned beside the running surface (36) of the high-speed pulley (16), and the first set of teeth (68) and the third set of teeth (52) are engaged. The pulley assembly (10) is configurable between the high- and low-speed configurations by disengagement of the teeth, movement of the low-speed pulley (18) along the central axis, and engagement of the teeth.