Residue oscillating deflector speed coupled to ground speed of combine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 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 system that adjusts its frequency based on ground speed, impeller speed, and throughput, and optionally using sensors for feedback on residue distribution, to mitigate striping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the combine ground speed increases, then productivity improves, but residue distribution uniformity deteriorates due to striping
Solution Approach 1:
The oscillating deflector frequency is dynamically adjusted based on combine ground speed to maintain optimal residue distribution. The system transitions from a static deflector setup to a dynamic one where the oscillation frequency varies with operating conditions, preventing striping patterns while maintaining high productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The oscillation frequency parameter of the deflector is changed in response to ground speed variations. By modifying this parameter dynamically, the system adapts to different operating speeds and maintains uniform residue distribution across the field, eliminating the striping effect that occurs at higher speeds
2Manufacturing precision
If the oscillating deflector frequency is increased, then residue distribution uniformity improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the oscillation frequency parameter dynamically based on ground speed and operational conditions rather than maintaining a constant high frequency. This allows the system to achieve uniform residue distribution while minimizing energy consumption by using only the necessary oscillation intensity for current operating conditions
3Device complexity
If a fixed oscillating frequency is used, then device complexity is reduced, but residue distribution adaptability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control system uses feedback from ground speed sensors and operational parameters to automatically adjust the oscillating deflector frequency. This feedback mechanism enables the system to adapt to changing conditions without requiring complex manual intervention, achieving both adaptability and reasonable complexity through automated control
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is designed to handle multiple functions: monitoring ground speed, determining optimal oscillation frequency, and controlling the deflector motor. This multi-functional approach consolidates complexity into a single integrated system rather than requiring separate mechanisms for each function
Data Source
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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.