Combine Residue Deflector Frequency Control for Even Spreading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Combine harvesters struggle to distribute crop residue evenly over a field, particularly when ground speed and operating conditions change, leading to striping issues.
Innovation Solution
A combine harvester equipped with a residue spreader featuring a continuously oscillating deflector, controlled by a controller that adjusts its frequency based on ground speed, impeller speed, and throughput, and optionally using sensors for feedback on residue distribution, to achieve even residue distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the oscillating deflector operates at a fixed frequency, then the mechanism is simple and reliable, but the residue distribution becomes uneven and creates striping when ground speed changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by transitioning from a fixed-frequency oscillating deflector to a variable-frequency system. The controller dynamically adjusts the oscillation frequency based on detected ground speed and residue distribution patterns, allowing the system to adapt to changing operating conditions and eliminate striping while maintaining operational reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the oscillation frequency parameter of the deflector based on ground speed and residue distribution feedback. The controller varies this parameter in real-time to optimize residue spread uniformity across different operating conditions, directly addressing the striping problem caused by fixed-frequency operation.
2Manufacturing precision
If the oscillating deflector frequency is increased to reduce striping, then residue distribution improves, but the device complexity and control requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by using sensors to detect residue distribution patterns and ground speed, then feeding this information back to the controller. The controller uses this feedback to automatically adjust the oscillating deflector frequency, achieving improved residue distribution without requiring complex manual control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service by automatically detecting striping conditions and adjusting the deflector frequency without operator intervention. The controller monitors residue distribution patterns and autonomously modifies operating parameters to eliminate striping, reducing the need for complex external control mechanisms.
3Manufacturing precision
If the oscillating deflector frequency is adjusted manually, then residue distribution can be optimized, but the ease of operation decreases and requires additional operator input
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically detecting ground speed and residue distribution patterns, then autonomously adjusting the deflector frequency without requiring operator intervention. This maintains operational simplicity while achieving optimized residue distribution through automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The feedback mechanism enables automatic optimization by continuously monitoring operating conditions and residue distribution, then adjusting the deflector frequency accordingly. This eliminates the need for manual adjustment while maintaining ease of operation, as the system self-corrects based on detected conditions.
4Manufacturing precision
If the oscillating deflector operates continuously at high frequency, then residue spread uniformity improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the oscillation frequency parameter based on detected ground speed and residue distribution conditions. Rather than operating continuously at high frequency, the controller adjusts the frequency to the minimum necessary level to achieve uniform distribution, reducing energy consumption while maintaining effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic frequency adjustment allows the system to adapt oscillation intensity to actual operating conditions. The deflector operates at variable frequencies matched to ground speed and residue flow characteristics, avoiding unnecessary high-frequency operation and reducing energy consumption while maintaining distribution uniformity.
Data Source
AI summary
A combine harvester including a feeder housing for receiving harvested crop, a separating system for threshing the harvested crop to produce grain and residue, a residue spreader, a continuously oscillating residue deflector for deflecting the expelled residue, and a controller. The controller is configured to determine a combine harvester ground speed, a spreader impeller speed, and/or a combine throughput heading of the combine, and to vary the deflector oscillating frequency according to at least one of combine harvester ground speed, spreader impeller speed, and combine throughput, for a more even distribution of expelled residue. Oscillation frequency of the deflector may also be varied according to feedback from sensors detecting residue distribution by the spreader or according to combine operator input.