Swather Receiving Device Vertical Suspension for Ground Contour Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rakes struggle to precisely adapt to uneven ground profiles due to their large mass, making it difficult to maintain a consistent pick-up distance and potentially damaging crops by moving them over the ground.
Innovation Solution
A rake design with a vertically movable receiving device relative to both the cross conveyor frame and main frame, allowing independent height adjustment without moving the cross conveyor device, coupled with a suspension system that includes floor guide elements and spring elements for weight distribution and floor profiling, enabling dynamic adaptation to ground profiles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the entire rake unit is suspended movably from the main frame to allow the pick-up device to rise and fall according to the soil profile, then the pick-up device can adapt to ground contours, but the large mass of the rake unit makes it relatively inert and prevents precise tracking of the soil profile
Solution Approach 1:
The rake is divided into functionally independent segments: the receiving device (pick-up device) is separated from the cross conveyor device. Only the receiving device is suspended movably from the main frame, while the cross conveyor remains relatively stationary. This segmentation allows the lightweight receiving device to track soil contours precisely without the inertia penalty of moving the entire heavy rake unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces vertical mobility specifically for the receiving device through suspension links, adding a degree of freedom in the vertical dimension without requiring the entire rake unit to be movable. This targeted dimensional change enables soil profile adaptation at the pick-up point while maintaining structural stability elsewhere.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the pick-up device is made lightweight for better soil profile tracking, then dynamic adaptation improves, but the structural stability and support capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into a lightweight, movable receiving device and a stable, stationary cross conveyor. The receiving device uses suspension links for minimal mass and maximum mobility, while the cross conveyor maintains structural integrity and stability. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
Suspension links act as intermediaries between the main frame and the receiving device, providing the necessary mechanical connection for support while allowing vertical movement. These links enable the lightweight receiving device to maintain both mobility for soil tracking and sufficient structural stability through the intermediary connection mechanism.
3Productivity
If the cross conveyor device is raised and lowered to maintain consistent pick-up distance, then crop transfer efficiency improves, but the complexity and time required for height adjustment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The height adjustment function is segmented and assigned specifically to the receiving device through its suspension links, rather than requiring the entire cross conveyor device to be adjusted. This allows independent vertical positioning of the pick-up point without complex system-wide height changes, simplifying the overall mechanism while maintaining crop transfer efficiency.
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 design allows for precise and dynamic adaptation to uneven ground profiles, reducing crop damage and improving pick-up efficiency by maintaining a consistent distance from the ground without the need to raise and lower the cross conveyor device, enhancing the rake's ability to follow ground contours.
Implementation Method 1
The receiving suspension has at least three suspension units spaced apart along the swather transverse axis, in particular designed as a triangle. Each suspension unit has a suspension link extending from a rear region of the cross conveyor frame toward the front of the receiving device, which is pivotally connected on both sides. At least one of the suspension links has a pivot bearing with only one degree of freedom, which absorbs forces acting along the swather transverse axis between the suspension unit and the cross conveyor frame.
Implementation Method 2
Each suspension unit has a suspension link extending from a rear region of the cross conveyor frame toward the front of the receiving device, which is pivotally connected on both sides. At least one of the suspension links has a pivot bearing with only one degree of freedom, which absorbs forces acting along the swather transverse axis between the suspension unit and the cross conveyor frame.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a swather (1) with a main frame (2) which can be supported by a chassis (4) in the operating state, and with at least one swather unit (20) connected at least indirectly to the main frame (2), which has a receiving device (21) and a transverse conveying device (30) with a transverse conveying frame (31) arranged at least predominantly behind it in a working configuration of the swather (1) with respect to a longitudinal axis (X) of the swather, wherein the receiving device (21) is configured to receive agricultural crops from the ground (50) in the working configuration and transfer them to the transverse conveying device (30), and the transverse conveying device (30) is configured to convey the transferred crops along a transverse axis (Y) of the swather and deposit them in swaths on the ground (50).In order to enable improved dynamic adaptation to a ground profile in a swather, the invention provides that the receiving device (21) is vertically movable both relative to the transverse conveying frame (31) and relative to the main frame (2) at least with respect to a swather vertical axis (Z).