Agricultural Harvester Elevator With Distal Hopper Buffer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural harvesters, particularly sugar cane harvesters, face productivity loss when an external receiver for harvested crops is absent or improperly positioned, requiring the harvester to pause operations, as the unloading elevator must be stopped to prevent discharge onto the ground.
Innovation Solution
An elevator assembly with a storage hopper at its distal end, featuring a movable hopper gate and rear deflector that allows temporary storage of harvested crops within a defined volume, enabling continuous harvesting even when an external receiver is not properly positioned.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If an external receiver is used for harvested crops, then the harvester can unload crops continuously, but the harvester loses productivity when the receiver is absent or improperly positioned
Solution Approach 1:
The storage hopper is positioned and prepared in advance at the distal end of the elevator, allowing crops to be stored immediately when the external receiver is unavailable. This preliminary arrangement enables the harvester to maintain operation without waiting for receiver positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage hopper acts as an intermediary between the elevator and the external receiver. When the receiver is absent or improperly positioned, the hopper receives crops from the elevator and holds them temporarily, mediating the discontinuity between harvesting and unloading operations.
2Reliability
If the elevator is stopped to prevent discharge onto the ground, then crop loss is avoided, but harvesting operations must be paused
Solution Approach 1:
The storage hopper enables continuous harvesting operation by providing a temporary storage destination for crops. Instead of stopping the elevator when the external receiver is unavailable, the system continues to operate and discharge crops into the hopper, maintaining uninterrupted harvesting productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts its operation based on receiver availability. When the external receiver is present, crops are discharged directly to it; when absent or improperly positioned, the system automatically redirects crops to the storage hopper, maintaining continuous operation without interruption.
3Manufacturing precision
If the harvester waits for the receiver to be properly positioned, then correct unloading is ensured, but significant productivity loss occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The storage hopper is pre-positioned and ready to receive crops immediately when the external receiver is unavailable. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need to wait for receiver positioning, as the hopper is already in place to accept crops and maintain operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage hopper serves as an intermediary buffer that allows the harvester to continue operating independently of the external receiver's positioning status. Crops are discharged to the hopper regardless of receiver availability, eliminating time loss while maintaining unloading precision when the receiver is present.
Data Source
AI summary
An elevator assembly for a harvester may include an elevator extending within between proximal and distal ends. The elevator may be configured to carry harvested crops between its proximal and distal ends. The elevator assembly may also include a storage hopper at a location adjacent to the distal end of the elevator. The storage hopper may include a rear deflector and a hopper gate. The hopper gate may be movable between a discharge position, at which the hopper gate exposes a discharge opening of the storage hopper, and a storage position, at which the hopper gate covers the discharge opening to prevent harvested crops from being discharged from the elevator assembly. Additionally, when the hopper gate is moved to the storage position, the hopper gate and the rear deflector may at least partially define a storage volume adjacent to the distal end of the elevator for storing the harvested crop.