Suspended Wheel Arrangement for Crop Harvesting Header Transport
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current crop harvesting headers face challenges in transportation, particularly for smaller headers, as existing solutions are impractical, inconvenient, or expensive, and lack a stable and efficient method for changing the orientation of ground wheels between working and transport positions.
Innovation Solution
A crop harvesting header with a suspended wheel arrangement that allows for easy movement between different elevations and orientations, using a suspension linkage and adjustment biasing member to support the header frame, enabling stable transport and operation by pivoting the wheels between transport and field rolling orientations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the header width is reduced during transport by rotating wheels, then transportation becomes feasible, but the mechanism adds complexity to the wheel arrangement
Solution Approach 1:
Each wheel arrangement is designed to perform multiple functions: serving as both transport wheels (when rotated to transverse orientation) and field operational wheels (when rotated to parallel orientation). The wheels also function as gauge wheels during field operations. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate transport-specific mechanisms, reducing overall system complexity despite the rotational capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel arrangements incorporate rotational joints and positioning mechanisms that allow smooth transition between orientations. The dynamic nature of the system enables the header to be efficiently transported by rotating wheels transverse to the direction of travel, reducing the effective transport width, while maintaining operational capability through reorientation.
2Ease of operation
If ground wheels are used to support the header during transport, then the header can be towed independently, but the wheels must be manually moved between positions which reduces efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel arrangements are designed to be self-positioning through gravity-assisted movement along inclined guide surfaces and self-latching mechanisms that automatically engage when wheels reach their transport or field positions. This reduces the manual effort required compared to completely manual positioning systems, allowing operators to efficiently transition wheels between orientations without complex mechanical assistance.
3Stability of the object's composition
If wheels are resiliently suspended to maintain stability during operation, then the header remains stable on uneven ground, but the suspension mechanism increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension linkage is integrated with the wheel mounting structure and the header frame, combining multiple functions into a unified system. The same linkage that attaches wheels to the header also provides the resilient suspension function, eliminating the need for separate suspension components. This merging reduces overall complexity while maintaining the stability benefits of resilient suspension during field operations.
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
Enables efficient and stable transportation of crop harvesting headers by allowing easy manual adjustment of wheel positions, reducing the width during transport while maintaining resilience and stability during operation, thus addressing the limitations of existing systems.
Implementation Method 1
a suspension linkage supporting the wheel frame to be movable relative to the header frame
Implementation Method 2
a biasing member acting on the suspension linkage so as to bias the suspension linkage towards a first position
Implementation Method 3
a ground wheel supported on the wheel frame for rolling along the ground in a transport direction when in the transport rolling orientation
Data Source
AI summary
A header for a crop harvesting machine includes front and rear wheel arrangements that pivot about respective upright axis between a field orientation and a perpendicular transport orientation, while having respective suspensions arrangements movable between different suspended heights. A biasing spring provides lift assist to carry weight of the wheel arrangement during adjustment of the suspension elevation while being isolated from the suspension once set at any one elevation. The front wheel arrangement includes an anti-rotation latch that locks the front wheel in the field orientation automatically upon disconnection of a hitch arm. A second wheel of the rear wheel arrangement can be held in a raised position relative to a first wheel in a field orientation. Load bearing surfaces between the suspended rear wheels and the header frame abut one another when latching to the header frame to isolate the suspension from the header frame in the transport orientation.