Variable Length Cutting Table for Harvesting Headers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cutting mechanisms with length-adjustable cutting tables in harvesting headers face limitations in adjustment range and suffer from issues like tilting transition plates when the cutting table is not moved parallel to the trough, leading to inefficiencies in crop transfer.
Innovation Solution
A header with a length-adjustable cutting table featuring a movable intermediate piece coupled to a rotatable shaft, which is driven by an actuator and biased by springs, allowing for greater adjustment range and uniform drive across the width, and utilizing a lost motion clutch to manage the adjustment path, ensuring smooth crop transfer without tilting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed-length cutting table is used, then the structure is simple, but the adaptability to different crop types is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting table is divided into a front cutting table element and a rear cutting table element that can move independently relative to each other. The front element can be adjusted in the forward direction relative to the rear element, allowing the cutting table length to be varied while maintaining structural simplicity through modular segmentation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting table transitions from a fixed structure to a dynamic, adjustable structure. The front cutting table element is made movable relative to the rear element through hydraulic cylinders, enabling the system to adapt its length dynamically based on crop requirements while maintaining operational simplicity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the cutting table adjustment range is extended, then the versatility increases, but the transition plate complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A transition plate is introduced as an intermediary element between the front cutting table element and the trough. This plate bridges the gap created by the adjustable front element, ensuring smooth crop transfer across the adjustment range without requiring complex mechanisms. The transition plate simplifies the connection while enabling extended adjustment capability.
3Ease of operation
If the cutting table is made parallel to the trough, then the crop transfer is smooth, but the adjustment mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting table elements are designed to maintain a consistent height and orientation relationship with the trough throughout the adjustment range. By ensuring the front and rear cutting table elements remain at the same level (equipotential), smooth crop transfer is achieved without requiring complex tilting or angular adjustment mechanisms.
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 solution provides a more extensive adjustment range than traditional mechanisms, ensuring a smooth and efficient transfer of crops without the tilting issues, enhancing the adaptability to different crop types and sizes.
Implementation Method 1
A transition plate is adjusted by springs, which bias the transition plate lying against a stop of the cutting table in a forward direction.
Implementation Method 2
the position of a front half of the cutting table can be adjusted by hydraulic cylinders in the forward direction relative to a rear half of the cutting table
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention is related to a cutting bar (10) with a variable length cutting table. It comprises a frame (12) movable in the forward direction (V) above the field and carrying a reeler (22), a transverse screw conveyor (18) and a trough (20) arranged above the transverse screw conveyor (18), a cutting table front element (28) position of which relative to the trough (20) is variable in the forward direction (V) by means of an actuating mechanism (30) along the transfer path and which carries a mowing mechanism beam (26) on its front side, and an intermediate element (34) movable relative to the trough and relative to the cutting table front element (28) in the forward direction, the intermediate element being positioned above the cutting table front element (28) and the trough (20) and forms a bridge between the cutting table front element (28) and the trough (20). The intermediate element (34) is connected to a shaft (48) rotatable about its axis and extending in the transverse direction; the shaft (48) in turn, is connected to the actuating mechanism (30) to provide a drive.