Cleaning Shoe Sieve Motion Compensation for Longitudinal Tilt
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing combine harvesters face inefficiencies in grain separation due to longitudinal tilt when operating on uneven terrain, as conventional solutions either require expensive suspension systems or complex mechanical adjustments that compromise space and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning shoe mechanism with an eccentric drive housing and actuator that varies the angle of the reciprocating motion of the sieve, allowing it to adapt to field inclines without altering the combine's angle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If suspension systems are used to tilt the entire vehicle to compensate for longitudinal inclination, then grain separation efficiency is improved, but cost and weight increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention separates the tilting function from the entire vehicle and applies it only to the cleaning shoe assembly. This segmented approach allows the sieve to be tilted independently to compensate for longitudinal inclination, improving grain separation efficiency without requiring the entire vehicle to be tilted, thus avoiding the weight and cost penalties of a full vehicle suspension system.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning shoe assembly is made dynamically adjustable through a tilting mechanism that can change the angle of the sieve relative to the horizontal plane. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt to varying terrain conditions and maintain optimal grain separation performance without permanent structural modifications or heavy suspension systems.
2Productivity
If complex mechanical adjustments are implemented to compensate for longitudinal tilt, then grain separation efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tilting mechanism of the cleaning shoe assembly serves multiple functions: it compensates for longitudinal inclination, maintains optimal sieve angle for grain separation, and adapts to varying terrain conditions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate compensation mechanisms, thereby simplifying the overall device while improving grain separation efficiency.
3Device complexity
If the sieve angle is fixed to work optimally on flat terrain, then device simplicity is maintained, but performance degrades on inclined surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The sieve is designed with a dynamic tilting capability that allows it to adjust its angle relative to the horizontal plane. This dynamic feature enables the sieve to maintain optimal performance on inclined surfaces by compensating for longitudinal tilt, while the mechanism remains relatively simple and integrates seamlessly with the existing cleaning shoe assembly.
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
Enhances grain separation efficiency by compensating for longitudinal tilt, reducing loss and maintaining performance on inclined surfaces without additional weight or space-consuming modifications.
Implementation Method 1
There is also normally provided a fan which blows air up and backwards through the louvres of the upper sieve
Implementation Method 2
The upper sieve is normally subjected to a generally linear longitudinal forward-and-backward reciprocating motion
Implementation Method 3
the louvres are angled so that the grain and MOG is generally 'ratcheted' towards the rear end of the upper sieve
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning shoe for a combine harvester, including a frame, a sieve and at least one reciprocating mechanism attached to the sieve for reciprocating the sieve in a forwards and backwards motion and the reciprocating mechanism includes an eccentric drive housing, pivotably mounted to the frame, and arranged to rotate around a pivot point thus changing its angle to the horizontal, and an actuator connected to the eccentric drive housing, which varies the angle to the horizontal of the reciprocating motion of the sieve by varying the angle to the horizontal of the eccentric drive housing.