Belted Grain Tank Floor for Unloading Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural harvesters face challenges with grain tank capacity, as larger machines require more efficient unloading to minimize downtime and increase harvesting efficiency, while existing designs compromise on volume and reliability due to reliance on gravity flow and increased center of gravity.
Innovation Solution
A grain tank with an active, horizontally disposed endless rotatable belt floor that actively transports grain to a cross conveyor for efficient unloading, allowing for increased capacity without raising the center of gravity and ensuring complete emptying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If the grain tank height is increased to increase capacity, then the grain tank storage volume increases, but the center of gravity is raised which is undesirable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from vertical expansion (increasing height) to horizontal expansion (increasing footprint area) by utilizing the available floor space more effectively. The grain tank is designed to maximize its footprint within the harvester's width and length constraints, allowing increased capacity without raising the center of gravity.
2Device complexity
If gravity flow is used for unloading, then the system is simple, but the emptying is unreliable and inefficient with considerable time required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a movable active floor that can be dynamically adjusted during unloading operations. The floor transitions from a static gravity-dependent system to a dynamic system where the floor itself moves to actively discharge grain, maintaining operational simplicity while dramatically improving unloading speed and completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The active floor utilizes the grain's own weight and the floor's movement to achieve complete emptying. The system is self-propelled in the sense that the moving floor mechanically pushes grain out without requiring external conveyors or additional energy-intensive mechanisms, maintaining simplicity while enhancing efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If sloped sides and floor are used to promote gravity flow, then grain flow is improved, but the grain tank storage volume is reduced for the footprint
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using permanent sloped surfaces that reduce storage volume, the patent employs a movable horizontal floor that can be positioned at different heights and angles during operation. This dynamic floor provides the necessary grain flow promotion only when needed during unloading, while maintaining maximum storage volume during the harvesting phase.
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
The solution enhances grain tank capacity and unloading efficiency, ensuring thorough and quick emptying without increasing the machine's footprint or height, thereby maximizing harvesting time and reducing manual cleaning needs.
Implementation Method 1
An active floor in the grain tank moves grain in the grain tank toward the opening. The active floor comprises an endless rotatable belt spanning the space between said sides.
Implementation Method 2
The belt is disposed substantially horizontal and has a discharge end extending through said opening. The conveyor at an end of the grain tank arranged to receive grain from the grain tank is a cross conveyor.
Implementation Method 3
It is known to drain the grain by gravity flow from the grain tank onto the conveyor. It is known to slope the walls and the floor of the grain tank to promote gravity flow of the grain through the door opening.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A grain tank (16) on a crop harvester (10) includes a belted conveyor floor (50) for moving grain in the grain tank (16) toward an opening (58) through which the grain tank (16) is emptied.