Auger Clearing Edge for Crop Jamming in Harvesters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing emptying devices for crop receptacles in agricultural vehicles, such as combine harvesters, face issues with crop jamming and accumulation during the conveyance of certain crops like grass seed, leading to potential auger bending and device failure due to high moisture content and specific crop properties.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a clearing edge perpendicular to the auger's rotation direction at the discharge end, combined with a holding arm that extends axially and radially, creating a geometric wedge to facilitate the removal of accumulated crop material and reduce jamming, while minimizing mechanical resistance and wedging effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If holding arms are provided in the discharge pipe to support the screw conveyor, then the structural stability is improved, but crop jamming and accumulation occurs due to obstacles in the conveying path
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful geometric wedge formed between the screw thread and holding device is intentionally extracted and utilized. Instead of eliminating the wedge space, the invention uses it as a controlled feature where the clearing edge actively manages crop accumulation, converting a potential jamming hazard into a functional element for crop redirection.
Solution Approach 2:
The clearing edge acts as an intermediary element between the screw conveyor and the holding device. It mediates the interaction by intercepting crop material that would otherwise accumulate in the geometric wedge, redirecting it along the discharge path, and preventing jamming without compromising the structural support function of the holding device.
2Power
If the auger winding is compressed by harvested crop to form cushions, then the conveying force is improved, but the auger bending and device failure occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The clearing edge performs a preliminary action by intercepting and redirecting crop material before it can accumulate excessively in the geometric wedge. This prevents the formation of high-compression cushions that would exert dangerous bending forces on the auger, while still allowing sufficient crop contact for effective conveying.
Solution Approach 2:
The clearing edge provides preliminary anti-action by counteracting the tendency of crop material to accumulate and compress against the auger winding. It actively works against the formation of harmful cushions before they can develop sufficient force to cause auger bending or device failure.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the holding arms extend radially outward to support the bearing point, then the mounting stability is improved, but the resistance to crop flow increases
Solution Approach 1:
The holding device is designed with local quality differentiation: the hollow-cylindrical section provides robust radial support for the bearing point mounting, while the holding arms are positioned and shaped to minimize interference with crop flow. The clearing edge further refines this by locally managing crop material in the critical wedge region without requiring extensive radial extensions.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an emptying device (40) for a crop receiving container (32) of an agricultural vehicle (10), with at least one conveying screw (38) rotatably mounted in a discharge pipe (36) and having a screw thread (44), wherein a bearing point (50) is provided at a crop discharge end (56) of the screw thread (44), which is received by a holding device (46) arranged inside the discharge pipe (36), wherein a clearing edge (58) is assigned to the crop discharge end (56) of the screw thread (44), which is positioned adjacent to the holding device (46).