Slot-Driven Sickle Drive Mechanism for Low Profile Header
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drive mechanisms for sickle assemblies in agricultural cutting machines, such as combines and windrowers, are inefficient as they require significant structural support on the sides, leading to vibrations, fatigue, and increased width, which disrupts crop flow and increases the risk of damaging adjacent crops.
Innovation Solution
A slot-driven, epicyclic sickle drive mechanism is integrated into or below the header floor, featuring a compact, tapered design with pivot arms and a power source that allows for simultaneous sideward movement of knife assemblies, reducing interference with crop flow and canceling out external forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the drive mechanism is located at the sides of the header, then the driving point can be in line with the stationary bar and clearances for removal are provided, but the header must include significant frame structure for supporting the drive and withstand forces and vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The drive mechanism is merged with the header floor structure, where the enclosure is integrated into the floor pan. This combination eliminates the need for separate side-mounted support structures while providing adequate clearance through the removable enclosure design.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive mechanism is repositioned from a side-mounted configuration to a floor-integrated configuration, changing the spatial dimension of placement. This allows the drive to be housed within the floor pan volume, reducing external frame requirements.
2Ease of manufacture
If the drive mechanism is located at the sides of the header, then assembly space is provided, but the end structure or crop divider must be relatively wide to accommodate the drive, increasing the possibility of pushing down adjacent standing crops
Solution Approach 1:
The drive mechanism is merged into the header floor structure, allowing assembly within the existing header volume. This eliminates the need for wide end structures, reducing the header width and minimizing interference with adjacent crops.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If two drives are located on opposite sides of the header to time the operation and cancel forces and vibrations, then vibration cancellation is achieved, but relatively long mechanical drive lines are required, adding weight, cost and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
Two drive mechanisms are merged into a single integrated enclosure on the header floor. The drives are positioned adjacent to each other and connected through the floor structure, eliminating long external mechanical drive lines while maintaining force cancellation through synchronized operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The header floor structure serves as an intermediary medium to transmit and coordinate the operation of the two drives. The floor pan acts as a common mounting surface and structural element that enables synchronized drive operation without requiring extensive external timing mechanisms.
4Device complexity
If the drive mechanism is integrated into or below the header floor, then structural requirements are reduced and header width is decreased, but the drive mechanism must fit within the limited space of the floor pan
Solution Approach 1:
The drive mechanism is designed to utilize the vertical space within the floor pan rather than extending laterally. By positioning the drive components within the depth of the floor pan and using a low-profile enclosure, the header width is reduced while accommodating all necessary drive elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive mechanism components are nested within the floor pan enclosure, with the power source, eccentric elements, and pivot arms arranged in a compact, space-efficient configuration that fits within the limited volume of the floor pan.
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
This configuration reduces structural requirements, minimizes vibration, and allows for a narrower header design, enhancing maneuverability and reducing the risk of damaging adjacent crops while maintaining efficient crop cutting.
Implementation Method 1
A substantially flat first eccentric element is supported in the cavity in connection with the first input element for rotation therewith around the rotational axis. The first end of the first pivot arm includes a slot cooperatively receiving the eccentric element, such that rotation of the first eccentric element around the first rotational axis will reciprocatingly pivot the first pivot arm.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A slot driven low profile sickle drive (62A, 62B) has an input rotatable about an upstanding rotational axis (84) and carries an eccentric (86) captured in a slot (98) in one end of a pivot arm (92) pivotable about an upstanding pivotal axis (102). A power source (142) is connected in rotatably driving relation to the input. The opposite end of the pivot arm (92) connects to a knife assembly (58) of a sickle (30). The input, eccentric (86) and pivot arm (92) are generally flat, and the power source (142) is vertically coextensive therewith for incorporation in or below the floor (28 ) of a header (22) of a plant cutting machine (20).