Air Channel Assembly for Combine Harvester Sieve

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Solution Overview

Problem

High throughput in combine harvesters leads to grain material becoming impenetrable to airflow, causing low air velocities at the rear of the chaffer and sieve, which reduces separation efficiency and relies on mechanical movement for conveying crop material, rather than fluidization by air.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of an air channel assembly with longitudinal air channels that allow free paths between adjacent channels, enabling unobstructed airflow and directing falling grain around the channels, thus maintaining airflow at higher throughput levels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If high throughput operation is implemented in combine harvesters, then crop processing capacity is improved, but grain material becomes impenetrable to airflow causing reduced air velocities and separation efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecrop processing throughputVSAvoidair velocity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The air channel assembly is segmented into multiple longitudinal air channels that are spaced apart to create free paths. This segmentation allows airflow to be divided into multiple streams, preventing grain material from blocking the entire airflow path while maintaining high throughput processing capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces a new spatial dimension by creating longitudinal air channels that extend along the length of the sieve. This three-dimensional airflow structure allows air to move rearward through multiple levels and paths, enabling unobstructed airflow even when grain material is present on the sieve surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If high throughput operation is implemented in combine harvesters, then crop processing capacity is improved, but separation efficiency deteriorates due to reduced airflow penetration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecrop processing throughputVSAvoidseparation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the air channel assembly into multiple longitudinal channels with free paths between them, the invention ensures that airflow can penetrate through grain material effectively. This maintains separation efficiency by allowing air to reach and fluidize material even at high throughput levels where conventional single-channel designs would fail.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The free paths between adjacent air channels act as intermediaries that facilitate airflow penetration through grain material. These gaps allow air to bypass obstructing grain and continue flowing rearward, maintaining the fluidization necessary for effective separation without reducing throughput.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If conventional cleaning shoe design is used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but airflow is obstructed by grain material at high throughput levels

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning shoe structureVSAvoidcrop processing throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The air channel assembly is segmented into multiple longitudinal channels with free paths, creating a structure that is more complex than conventional single-channel designs but remains relatively simple in fabrication. This segmented structure prevents airflow obstruction by grain material, enabling high throughput operation without sacrificing structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The air channel assembly creates a porous-like structure with free paths between channels that allow airflow to pass through. This design resembles porous materials that permit fluid passage while maintaining structural integrity, enabling the cleaning shoe to handle high throughput volumes without blocking airflow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

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

This solution ensures consistent airflow rearward through the chaffer and sieve, enhancing separation efficiency and allowing for higher crop processing throughput without compromising air flow, thereby improving the operational efficiency of the combine harvester.

Implementation Method 1

a blower configured to direct air rearward and upward through the sieve and the chaffer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAirflow:

Implementation Method 2

grain falling downward through the sieve

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 3

enabling unobstructed airflow and directing falling grain around the channels, thus maintaining airflow at higher throughput levels

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Data Source

PatentUS12178162B2Combine harvesters having air channel assemblies, and related methods

Publication Date: 2024.12.31 AGCO INT GMBH

AI summary

A combine harvester includes a cleaning shoe, which has a chaffer, a sieve below the chaffer, a blower configured to direct air rearward and upward through the sieve and the chaffer, and an air channel assembly defining a plurality of longitudinal air channels positioned to receive air from the blower under a forward end of the sieve and deliver the air to a position rearward along a length of the sieve. The air channels are spaced such that the air channel assembly defines free paths between adjacent air channels such that grain falling downward through the sieve does not obstruct rearward air flow through the air channels.