Transparent Shield Panel Redirecting Crop Debris in Agricultural Headers
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Solution Overview
Problem
In agricultural implements, material thrown upward by the rotating collecting member often obstructs the operator's view or becomes entangled, and is wasted by being thrown onto the ground instead of being collected in the rear discharge opening.
Innovation Solution
A shield apparatus with a mounting bracket assembly and a panel member that extends upwardly and forwardly from the header frame, redirecting material thrown upwardly downwardly into the rear discharge opening, and is preferably made of translucent or transparent material to maintain operator visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a shield apparatus is added to redirect material, then material collection efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shield apparatus is divided into discrete components: a shield member, mounting brackets, and support structures. This segmentation allows for easier installation, maintenance, and replacement without requiring complex assembly procedures, thus improving material collection efficiency while limiting the increase in overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The shield apparatus acts as an intermediary element between the collecting member and the discharged material. It intercepts material that would otherwise be thrown upward and redirects it into the rear discharge opening, improving collection efficiency without requiring fundamental changes to the existing header structure.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the panel member is made opaque to block material, then material obstruction is prevented, but operator visibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The shield member is constructed from translucent or transparent materials that allow light transmission. This optical property enables the shield to block material particles while maintaining operator visibility, effectively resolving the contradiction between preventing material obstruction and preserving illumination intensity for the operator.
Solution Approach 2:
The shield member exhibits different properties at different functional zones: the upper portion blocks material particles while the translucent/transparent characteristics maintain light transmission. This local differentiation of functional properties allows simultaneous achievement of material blocking and visibility preservation.
Data Source
AI summary
A shield apparatus is mounted on the header of an agricultural implement which includes a rotatable collecting member to direct collected material rearwardly towards a rear discharge opening. The shield apparatus includes a panel member and a mounting bracket assembly which supports the panel member above the rear discharge opening of the header spanning in a lateral direction transversely to the forward working direction such that the panel member extends from a rear edge rearward of the collecting member to a front edge which is spaced forward and upwardly in relation to the rear edge. The shield apparatus ensures that material thrown upwardly above the rear of the header frame is redirected downwardly into the rear discharge opening of the header for collection by the implement in the usual manner. The shield apparatus does not interfere with the visibility of the operator when the panel member is clear.