Adjustable Perforation Chopper Pan for Grain Loss Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional combines lack an automated system to adjust the perforated chopper pan, leading to inefficiencies in grain throughput and increased grain loss during the harvesting process, as operators must manually manage the pan to prevent grain from entering the residue system.
Innovation Solution
An automated chopper pan system with adjustable perforations controlled by a controller that monitors grain throughput and loss, adjusting the perforation size based on predefined thresholds to maximize throughput while minimizing grain loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If the perforated pan is adjusted to prevent grain from falling into the residue system, then grain loss is reduced, but grain throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The chopper pan is designed with adjustable perforations that can dynamically change their opening size based on operating conditions. The pan includes movable panels or adjustable sections that allow the opening size to be modified during operation, enabling optimization between grain loss prevention and throughput maintenance based on real-time harvesting conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical parameter of the pan opening size to resolve the contradiction. By adjusting the opening size parameter, the system can prevent grain loss when the opening is too large, and maintain throughput when the opening is appropriately sized, thus dynamically optimizing performance based on operating conditions.
2Productivity
If the operator manually adjusts the perforated pan to optimize grain flow, then grain throughput is improved, but operational complexity and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors and control mechanisms that automatically monitor grain flow and pan position, enabling the pan to self-adjust without operator intervention. The automated system detects when grain is blocking the pan and automatically adjusts the perforations to maintain optimal throughput, eliminating the need for manual operation while preserving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensors to detect grain blockage or flow conditions and provides feedback to an control mechanism that automatically adjusts the pan perforations. This closed-loop feedback system continuously monitors and adjusts the pan position to optimize grain throughput without requiring manual operator intervention.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
A combine having a feeder housing for receiving harvesting crop, a separating system for threshing the harvested crop to produce grain and residue, at least one of a yield monitor or a loss monitor, a crop cleaning system for separating the grain from the residue, a residue chopper for chopping the separated residue, an automated chopper pan positioned below the residue chopper, the automated chopper pan having adjustable perforations, and a controller coupled to the at least one of the yield monitor or the loss monitor. The controller is configured to determine at least one of throughput from the yield monitor or loss from the loss monitor, compare the at least one of throughput or loss to respective throughput thresholds or loss thresholds, and control the automated chopper pan to adjust the perforations based on the threshold comparison.