Windrower-Baler Load Transfer for Stable Steering
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Solution Overview
Problem
The inefficiency and instability of using a single tractor to pull both a rake and a baler due to the significant mass difference between them, leading to the rake being pulled out of its path and impaired steering, especially when cornering or on slopes.
Innovation Solution
A system combining a swather and a baler with a press frame, press chassis, and rear coupling device, allowing the baler to be partially supported on the swather frame, and utilizing a load transfer element to shift axle loads, reducing the baler's axle load while increasing the swather's axle load, thereby stabilizing the vehicle combination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a single tractor pulls both the rake and the baler, then the number of tractors is reduced, but the rake is pulled out of its path and steering is impaired due to the mass difference between the rake and the baler
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into two separate towing arrangements: the rake is directly coupled to the tractor, while the baler is coupled to the rake. This segmentation allows each implement to be independently controlled and stabilized, preventing the rake from being pulled out of path by the baler's mass
Solution Approach 2:
The rake acts as an intermediary between the tractor and the baler. By coupling the baler to the rake rather than directly to the tractor, the system uses the rake as a mediator that can handle the mass difference and maintain steering stability while still allowing a single tractor to pull both implements
2Productivity
If the baler is attached to the rake, then the rake's mass is significantly less than that of the baler, causing the rake to be pulled out of its path especially when cornering or on slopes
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling between the rake and baler is made dynamic and adjustable. The rake's coupling mechanism can adapt to the varying forces experienced during operation, allowing it to maintain path stability while accommodating the mass difference and lateral forces during cornering or on slopes
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the rake's own weight and structural design to counterbalance the lateral forces exerted by the heavier baler. The rake's chassis and coupling mechanism are designed to resist being pulled sideways, providing a stabilizing counteracting force
3Loss of time
If a single tractor pulls the rake and then the baler, then time is lost due to the sequential operation, but using two tractors simultaneously maintains better timing
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the function of two separate tractor operations into a single tractor operation. By attaching the baler to the rake, both implements can be pulled simultaneously by one tractor, eliminating the time loss associated with sequential operations while avoiding the complexity and cost of deploying two tractors
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a combination (1) with a swather (10) and a baler (20) as processing equipment, wherein the baler (20) has a baler frame (21), a baler chassis (24) connected thereto at least indirectly, and a baler coupling device (23), and wherein the swather (10) has a swather frame (11), a swather chassis (16) connected thereto at least indirectly, and a rear coupling device (12) arranged on the rear side of the swather frame (11) with respect to a longitudinal axis (X) and a rear coupling point (B) to which the baler coupling device (23) can be pivotally coupled and transmit tension and compression forces, whereby the baler (20) can be partially supported on the swather frame (11).To improve the driving characteristics of a vehicle combination with a swather and a following baler, the invention provides that a load transfer element (18) is designed to exert a transfer torque acting between the swather frame (11) and the baler (20) with respect to the rear coupling point (B), by which a baler axle load (FP) of the baler (20) can be reduced while increasing a swather axle load (Fs) of the swather (10).