Combine Feeder Assembly Top-Down Grain Conveying

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing grain processing assemblies for combines often experience clogging and cross contamination due to crop material getting stuck in the feeder assembly and residual grain being trapped, particularly in seed research plot combines where contamination between different seeds must be avoided.

Innovation Solution

A grain processing assembly that feeds crop material to the top of a threshing assembly, featuring a feeder assembly with adjustable conveyors and a thresher assembly with a rotatable rotor, where the crop material falls from the discharge end of the feeder assembly into the thresher assembly, reducing residual material and contamination risks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If crop material is fed to the bottom of the threshing assembly, then the feeder assembly can deliver material, but crop material becomes plugged and clogged in the feeder assembly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial deliveryVSAvoidclogging resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional feeding arrangement by delivering crop material to the top of the threshing assembly rather than the bottom. This inversion allows gravity to assist material flow into the rotor, eliminating the need for material to travel through horizontal passages where clogging occurs, thus resolving the contradiction between material delivery and clogging resistance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the dimensional approach by positioning the discharge end of the feeder assembly vertically above the thresher assembly opening. This vertical arrangement in the third dimension allows material to fall freely into the rotor, avoiding the horizontal flow path that causes plugging and clogging issues

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If conventional feeder assembly is used, then material can be conveyed, but residual grain becomes trapped and cross contamination occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial conveyingVSAvoidcross contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the discharge end of the feeder assembly from the enclosed housing structure and positions it externally above the thresher opening. This separation allows material to be deposited directly into the rotor without entering enclosed passages where residual grain would be trapped, thereby eliminating cross contamination while maintaining conveying productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces free-fall as an intermediary mechanism between the feeder discharge and thresher intake. Material falls through air rather than traveling through enclosed conveyance passages, which prevents residual grain from being trapped and eliminates the contamination pathway while maintaining efficient material transfer

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If discharge end is positioned below thresher assembly, then material can be fed in, but residual material accumulates in the feeder assembly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial feedingVSAvoidresidual material

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the vertical positioning by placing the discharge end above the thresher assembly opening instead of below. This inversion allows material to fall by gravity directly into the rotor, eliminating the need for material to be pulled through the feeder assembly, thus preventing residual material accumulation while maintaining ease of feeding

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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

This design reduces the likelihood of residual crop material in the feeder assembly and eliminates cross contamination by efficiently directing crop material to the top of the threshing assembly, ensuring cleaner processing and reduced clogging.

Implementation Method 1

The feeder assembly has a first conveyor having an input end and a discharge end and a second conveyor positioned above the first conveyor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConveyor belt transport:

Implementation Method 2

crop material falls from the discharge end into the threshing assembly

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS11140828B2Grain feeding and conveying assembly for a combine

Publication Date: 2021.10.12 GARY W CLEM

AI summary

A grain processing assembly for a combine that comprises a feeder assembly, a threshing assembly having a rotor disposed within a housing, a hood. The feeder assembly comprises a lower conveyor and an upper conveyor. The position of the lower conveyor and the upper conveyor is such that upper conveyor assists the lower conveyor in directing crop material being transported on the lower conveyor towards a discharge end of the lower conveyor. The hood engages a belt of the second upper conveyor.