Side Swather Steering Cylinder Arrangement for Track Correction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing trailed side rakes with two rotor units have complex control mechanisms that are difficult to install and retrofit, making it challenging to achieve efficient swath transfer and maximize working width during cornering.
Innovation Solution
A trailed side rake design featuring a front and rear rotor unit, a longitudinal beam, and a hydraulic steering system with a main and auxiliary steering cylinder, along with a master cylinder for actuating the auxiliary steering cylinder, allowing for parallel adjustment ranges and simplified installation and retrofitting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a complex control mechanism with multiple steering cylinders is used to achieve complete swath transfer and track correction, then the swath transfer completeness is improved, but the device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control mechanism is segmented into two independent hydraulic steering cylinders: a main steering cylinder for primary lateral offset adjustment and an auxiliary steering cylinder for additional track correction. This segmentation allows each cylinder to perform a specific function with simpler individual designs, while collectively achieving complete swath transfer during cornering operations
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic adjustment capabilities where the rear rotor unit can be laterally offset during cornering to maximize working width. The hydraulic steering cylinders provide continuous, adjustable lateral offset control rather than fixed positioning, enabling the system to adapt to different cornering scenarios while maintaining swath transfer completeness
2Reliability
If a complex control mechanism is integrated into the first rotor unit area, then the track correction capability is improved, but the ease of manufacture and retrofitting deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic steering system is designed with universal mounting interfaces and standardized hydraulic connections that can be adapted to various side rake models. The main and auxiliary steering cylinders can be mounted in different locations along the longitudinal beam and rotor units, providing flexibility for both new manufacturing and retrofitting applications without requiring fundamental redesign
Solution Approach 2:
The longitudinal beam serves as an intermediary structure that carries the hydraulic steering cylinders and connects the front and rear rotor units. This central structural element provides convenient mounting points for the steering system components, simplifying both installation and retrofitting processes by utilizing the existing framework rather than requiring modifications to individual rotor unit assemblies
3Productivity
If the rear rotor unit is offset laterally during cornering to maximize working width, then the productivity is improved, but the stability of the rotor unit alignment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic steering system provides active feedback control where the position and orientation of the rear rotor unit are continuously adjusted during cornering operations. The system responds to lateral offset requirements by actuating the main and auxiliary steering cylinders to maintain optimal alignment between the front and rear rotor units, ensuring stable swath transfer even when the rear unit is laterally positioned to maximize working width
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 design enables efficient track correction of the rear rotor unit during left turns, ensuring complete swath transfer and maximizing the working width of the side rake, while also allowing for a compact and easily installable hydraulic control system.
Implementation Method 1
a hydraulic main steering cylinder (7) with a first adjustment range (7a) and a hydraulic auxiliary steering cylinder (8) with a second adjustment range (8a) running parallel to the first adjustment range (7a)
Implementation Method 2
a master cylinder (10) for actuating the auxiliary steering cylinder (8)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A trailed side rake, in particular a two-rotor side rake, is described. Accordingly, it comprises a front rotor unit with a drawbar and a towing device articulated thereto and rigidly coupled to a tractor, a rear rotor unit, a longitudinal beam articulated to the front and rear rotor units, a hydraulic main steering cylinder with a first adjustment range, and a hydraulic auxiliary steering cylinder with a second adjustment range running parallel to the first adjustment range. The main steering cylinder and the auxiliary steering cylinder are arranged for adjusting a pivot angle between the longitudinal beam and the chassis of the rear rotor unit, and a master cylinder for actuating the auxiliary steering cylinder.The master cylinder is either hinged to the drawbar on the one hand and to the trailer coupling on the other hand, such that the master cylinder is extended/retracted by changing the caster angle formed between the trailer coupling and the drawbar. Alternatively, the master cylinder is hinged to a rotor mount of the front rotor unit on the one hand and to the longitudinal member on the other hand, such that the master cylinder is extended/retracted by changing the caster angle formed between the front rotor mount and the longitudinal member. The arrangement of the master cylinder enables a simple design and, if necessary, retrofittable track correction of the rear rotor unit when cornering to optimize overlap.