Combine Harvester Crop Flow Control for Blockage Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Combine harvesters experience crop build-up and blockages due to reduced or stopped crop flow through processing arrangements, leading to inefficiencies and potential damage.

Innovation Solution

A control system that monitors crop flow rates and adjusts the operation of upstream and downstream processing arrangements to prevent blockages by slowing or stopping upstream flow and maintaining downstream flow, reducing the risk of crop accumulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If crop flow rate is reduced or stopped in a processing arrangement, then processing capacity is improved, but crop build-up and blockages occur in upstream arrangements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing reliabilityVSAvoidcrop accumulation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The control system performs preliminary action by detecting reduced flow rates and adjusting upstream processing arrangements before significant crop build-up occurs. The system proactively reduces flow rates in upstream arrangements when a downstream arrangement shows signs of slowing, preventing blockages before they fully develop.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control system implements feedback by continuously monitoring flow rates through sensors and using this information to dynamically adjust the operation of upstream and downstream processing arrangements. The system responds to real-time flow conditions, creating a closed-loop control mechanism that prevents crop accumulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If upstream crop processing arrangements are slowed or stopped, then crop blockages are prevented, but overall productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblockage preventionVSAvoidharvest throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system applies dynamics by continuously varying the flow rates of different processing arrangements based on real-time conditions. Rather than operating at fixed rates, the system dynamically adjusts upstream and downstream arrangements to maintain optimal flow, preventing blockages while maximizing throughput under varying conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters (flow rates) of different processing arrangements to resolve the contradiction. By adjusting the flow rate parameters of upstream and downstream arrangements independently based on detected conditions, the system prevents blockages while maintaining overall productivity through optimized parameter selection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If downstream crop processing arrangements maintain high flow rate, then crop removal is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecrop flow maintenanceVSAvoiddownstream processing energy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The control system applies partial action by maintaining high flow rates in downstream arrangements only when necessary to prevent blockages, rather than continuously operating at maximum capacity. The system adjusts downstream flow rates to the minimum level required to maintain reliable crop flow, reducing energy consumption while preventing blockages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP4652829A1A control arrangement for a combine harvester

Publication Date: 2025.11.26 AGCO CORP

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AI summary

A mechanism for controlling crop processing arrangements of a combine harvester. One or more flow rate measures are produced for a crop processing arrangement, which are processed to identify whether the flow rate of crop through the crop processing arrangement has been affected. If the flow rate has been affected, any upstream crop processing arrangements are slowed or stopped and any downstream crop processing arrangements are slowed or maintained (without reducing to zero).