Combine Harvester Separating Device Crop Flow Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing combine harvesters have low throughput due to the inefficiency of the axial separating device, as the harvested crop is thrown in such a way that a significant portion of the device is not utilized, leading to reduced separating performance and increased length of the harvester.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a separating basket with a basket segment connecting to the inlet head of the separating device, allowing direct transfer of crop flow from the threshing device, and a crop flow divider to evenly distribute the crop flow to two separating rotors, eliminating the need for a feed drum and optimizing the use of the separating device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the axial separating device is made longer to improve separation performance, then the separating efficiency is improved, but the overall length of the combine harvester increases
Solution Approach 1:
The separating device is divided into multiple sections with separate rotors arranged in series. Each rotor handles a portion of the crop flow, allowing the separating function to be distributed along the longitudinal axis without requiring a single excessively long rotor, thus improving separating efficiency while controlling overall length.
Solution Approach 2:
The separating rotors are arranged in a longitudinal series configuration rather than a single transverse rotor. This transforms the separation approach from a wide transverse layout to a longitudinal series layout, enabling better utilization of the crop flow path and achieving high separation efficiency within a compact harvester length.
2Ease of operation
If a feed drum is used to transfer crop to the separating device, then the crop transfer is simplified, but the crop flow is deflected from longitudinal movement to rotational movement causing late engagement with the separating rotor
Solution Approach 1:
The feed drum is completely removed from the system. Instead, the concave segment directly channels the crop flow from the threshing drum into the separating device, eliminating the intermediate rotational transfer mechanism that caused delayed rotor engagement and allowing the crop to engage with the separating rotor immediately.
Solution Approach 2:
The concave segment is designed to pre-position and guide the crop flow directly into the optimal engagement position with the separating rotor. This preliminary guidance ensures that the crop is properly oriented and positioned before entering the separating device, eliminating the need for a feed drum to perform this function.
3Ease of operation
If the crop is thrown into the separating unit by the feed drum, then the crop transfer is achieved, but a significant area of the separating unit adjacent to the feed drum is not utilized
Solution Approach 1:
The feed drum is removed entirely, eliminating the dead zone problem. The concave segment directly connects to the separating device inlet, ensuring that the entire length of the separating device is actively engaged with the crop flow from the first rotor to the last rotor, maximizing utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The direct connection between the concave segment and separating device creates a continuous crop flow path that engages all separating rotors simultaneously. This ensures that the entire separating device operates continuously and uniformly along its full length, with no idle or underutilized sections.
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 configuration enhances the efficiency and throughput of the separating device, reduces grain breakage, and allows for a longer separating device without increasing the harvester's length, resulting in higher productivity and energy savings.
Implementation Method 1
the pre-drum and the threshing drum are driven by rotation, and would therefore fling the crop away, especially radially
Implementation Method 2
the combine harvester has an inclined conveyor by means of which the harvested crop is taken from the header and transported towards a threshing unit
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a self-propelled combine harvester (1) comprising a tangential threshing unit (2) and an axial separating unit (3), wherein the threshing unit (2) has a tangential pre-drum (4), a tangential threshing drum (5) downstream of the pre-drum (4) in the direction of flow of the crop stream, and a separating basket (6) that at least partially encloses both the pre-drum (5) and the threshing drum (5). The separating unit (3) is downstream of the threshing unit (2) in the direction of flow of the crop stream and comprises at least one axial separating rotor (7, 8).According to the invention, the separating basket (6) comprises a basket segment (9) in an end region facing the separating device (3), which connects to an end of an inlet head (10) of the separating device (3) facing the threshing device (2), so that the crop flow can be transferred directly from the threshing device (2) to the separating device (3). Furthermore, the inlet head (10) comprises at least one crop flow divider (11) arranged centrally in the transverse direction of the combine harvester (1), by means of which a crop flow transferred from the threshing device (2) to the separating device (3) can be divided.