Agricultural Combine Return Pan with Oscillating Textured Floor and Dual Augers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing return pans in agricultural combines do not effectively distribute dirty grain evenly across the width when the combine tilts during operation, leading to inefficient threshing, separating, and cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A return pan with a textured floor that oscillates in a fore-and-aft direction, equipped with two perpendicular augers driven by separate motors, allowing for adjustable rotation directions to spread grain evenly across the width, including a curved pan that wraps around the augers for adjustable gap control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a single auger with helical flights is used to level grain on the return pan, then grain distribution is improved, but the system lacks flexibility to adapt to combine tilting conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The single auger is divided into two separate augers (first auger and second auger) that can be independently controlled. This segmentation allows each auger to handle grain flow from different sides of the return pan, enabling independent adjustment of grain distribution patterns to compensate for combine tilting while maintaining uniform grain distribution across the sieve/chaffer width.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a fixed single-auger configuration to a dynamic dual-auger system with independent motor control. Each auger can be selectively driven in opposite or same rotational directions based on operating conditions, particularly when the combine tilts on hillsides, providing adaptive grain distribution that responds to changing operational scenarios.
2Manufacturing precision
If the auger is mounted above the return pan surface with flights extending downward, then grain leveling is achieved, but the system complexity increases and effectiveness is reduced for slope operation
Solution Approach 1:
The complex single auger mounting system is replaced by two simpler augers positioned at the exit of the return pan. Each auger is driven by its own motor and can be independently controlled, reducing the complexity of the mounting mechanism while achieving superior grain distribution, especially when the combine operates on slopes.
3Productivity
If grain falls directly onto the sieve or chaffer in a thick pile, then the cleaning process becomes extremely inefficient or stops entirely, but adding a return pan increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The return pan acts as an intermediary device between the grating and the sieve/chaffer. It receives grain falling through the grating, redistributes it evenly across its width using the two augers, and then deposits a uniform thin layer onto the sieve/chaffer. This intermediary function prevents grain pile-up that would block cleaning while maintaining a relatively simple overall system structure.
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
Ensures even distribution of grain across the width of the return pan, enhancing the efficiency of threshing, separating, and cleaning processes, particularly when the combine is tilted, by allowing flexible direction of grain flow.
Implementation Method 1
a textured floor configured to push grain toward an exit of the return pan when the return pan is oscillated in a fore-and-aft direction
Implementation Method 2
when the return pan is oscillated in a fore-and-aft direction
Implementation Method 3
a first auger and a second auger that extend across an exit of the textured floor generally perpendicular to the fore-and-aft direction; a first motor coupled to the first auger to drive the first auger in rotation; and a second motor coupled to the second auger to drive the second auger in rotation
Data Source
AI summary
A separating and cleaning mechanism for an agricultural combine may include: a return pan. The return pan includes a textured floor, two augers, and two motors coupled to the two augers, respectively, to selectively drive the motors in rotation independently. The textured floor may oscillate in a fore-and-aft direction to move grain toward the two augers.