Auger Bed With Multiple Augers in Single Trough
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern combine harvesters face a limitation in conveyance capacity of the auger bed, which cannot be increased by raising the rotating speed of the augers or expanding the bed's width or height due to vehicle size constraints, necessitating a method to enhance throughput without these modifications.
Innovation Solution
The configuration of the auger bed includes multiple augers positioned in troughs with aligned longitudinal axes, where the troughs are designed to accommodate two or more augers, allowing for increased conveyance capacity without increasing the overall dimensions or rotational speed, utilizing a geared drive system for synchronized rotation and optimizing trough shapes to enhance material flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the rotating speed of the auger is increased to increase conveyance capacity, then the conveyance capacity is improved, but grain damage increases and cleaning system performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the single auger system into multiple parallel augers (typically three) within the same bed structure. Each auger operates at the same moderate rotational speed, but their combined conveying action increases overall capacity without requiring any single auger to rotate faster, thus avoiding grain damage and cleaning system performance deterioration
2Productivity
If the width of the auger bed is increased to increase conveyance capacity, then the conveyance capacity is improved, but vehicle size constraints are violated
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing capacity by expanding the bed width horizontally, the invention utilizes the vertical dimension by stacking multiple augers within the same horizontal footprint. The multiple augers are arranged vertically or in parallel within the same bed width, effectively using three-dimensional space to increase capacity without violating vehicle size constraints
3Productivity
If the diameter of the augers is increased to increase conveyance capacity, then the conveyance capacity is improved, but the ceiling height of the auger bed must be increased
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than using a single large-diameter auger that would require increased ceiling height, the invention segments the conveying function across multiple smaller-diameter augers. These multiple augers with smaller diameters fit within the existing ceiling height constraint while collectively providing the increased conveyance capacity through their combined operation
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 configuration effectively increases the conveyance capacity of the auger bed by allowing more augers in a smaller space, improving material handling efficiency without the drawbacks of increased speed or size expansion, thus addressing the capacity constraints of existing systems.
Implementation Method 1
The auger bed comprises at least two augers mounted in a trough of a bed for conveying a flow of threshed grain and MOG from the cylindrical threshing rotor
Data Source
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AI summary
An auger bed (200) for a threshing and separation system of an agricultural harvester includes a bed (202) having a trough (204b, 204c) and two augers (206d/e, 206b/c) positioned in the trough (204b, 204c) for conveying material along the trough.