Combine Suction Blower Housing for Low-Resistance Chaff Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing combine harvesters face issues with reduced suction capacity and crop accumulation due to the design of the suction blower assembly, which results in high flow resistance and inefficient distribution of non-grain components.
Innovation Solution
The suction blower assembly is redesigned with a partially spiral-shaped housing and chamfers to improve airflow dynamics, reducing flow resistance and preventing crop accumulation, while maintaining a compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the blades are positioned further away from the cover in the axial direction to convey non-granular components, then the capability to convey non-grain components is improved, but the suction capacity of the blower is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is designed with a spiral shape instead of a straight or angular form. This curved configuration guides the airflow containing non-grain components along a spiral path from the rotor toward the discharge opening, enabling effective conveyance of chaff and short straw without requiring increased blade-to-cover distance that would harm suction capacity.
2Productivity
If the housing is designed to widen section by section, then the flow resistance is reduced and suction performance is improved, but the installation space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spiral-shaped housing achieves a gradual widening effect through its curved geometry, allowing the cross-sectional area to increase progressively along the flow path. This reduces flow resistance and improves suction performance while maintaining a compact overall form factor suitable for limited installation spaces in combine harvesters.
3Productivity
If the housing is designed in a spiral shape with sectional widening, then the flow resistance is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spiral housing configuration provides a continuous, smooth flow path that gradually reduces flow resistance without requiring complex internal structures, baffles, or adjustable components. The single-piece spiral design minimizes the number of parts while achieving the desired aerodynamic performance.
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 redesign enhances suction performance, minimizes crop deposits, and optimizes the installation space, ensuring efficient distribution of non-grain components.
Implementation Method 1
a suction blower arrangement downstream of the screens of the cleaning device, comprising at least one suction blower... a rotor of the suction blower rotates about a vertical axis to draw in a suction airflow from a process chamber
Implementation Method 2
The partially spiral design of the housing improves suction performance by reducing flow resistance as the housing widens in sections along its rotation
Implementation Method 3
This chamfer fans out the suction airflow containing non-grain components and directs it downwards towards the base plate. This prevents deposits or loosens any non-grain components that do accumulate there.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a combine harvester (1) comprising a threshing device (2), a separating device (3), and a cleaning device (4), which has sieves (10) and a suction blower arrangement (12) downstream of the sieves (10) of the cleaning device (4) with at least one suction blower (13) enclosed by a housing (14) in which a rotor (19) of the at least one suction blower (13) rotates about a vertical axis of rotation (15) to draw in a suction airflow (11) from a process chamber (17) of the combine harvester (1) surrounding at least the cleaning device (4), wherein the rotor (19) is provided with several radially oriented blades (20) which project substantially vertically from a base plate (21) of the rotor (19), wherein the rotor (19) is bounded at the top by at least one cover (22) arranged parallel to the base plate (21).wherein the suction blower arrangement (12) directs an air and crop flow exiting the suction blower arrangement (12) through a discharge opening (27) to a discharge channel (18) adjoining the housing (14), wherein the housing (14) is at least partially spirally shaped and wherein the housing (14) has an upper chamfer (32) formed on the inside of the cover (24) in the area of the discharge opening (27), extending partially in the circumferential direction of the housing (14) and inclined towards the axis of rotation (15).