Combine Harvester Rotor-Stator Weed Seed Destruction with Lower Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing weed seed destruction systems in combine harvesters are inefficient, costly, and require excessive power consumption, while also increasing the spatial requirements and not providing adequate protection against foreign objects.
Innovation Solution
A weed seed destructor system integrated with the combine harvester's rotor shaft, utilizing a rotor and stator design with adjustable stator bars and inserts that deflect and impact seeds, combined with a transfer system driven by the harvester's power source, allowing for efficient seed devitalization and reduced power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate mobile weed seed destructor mill is used, then weed seed destruction capability is provided, but the device becomes large, heavy, and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the weed seed destructor function with the existing combine harvester structure by mounting the rotor and stator assembly on the combine's rear discharge section. The rotor utilizes the combine's existing power take-off system, and the stator is integrated into the discharge housing, eliminating the need for a separate mobile destructor unit while maintaining effective weed seed destruction capability
Solution Approach 2:
The combine harvester is designed to perform multiple functions: grain harvesting, chaff separation, and weed seed destruction. The rotor-stator assembly serves dual purposes by both processing the discharged material and destroying weed seeds simultaneously, making the equipment more versatile and reducing the need for additional specialized machinery
2Reliability
If a large mobile destructor mill is deployed, then weed seed destruction is achieved, but spatial requirements and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The destructor components are merged into the combine's existing discharge structure, utilizing the available space in the rear section. The rotor is mounted on the power take-off shaft within the discharge housing, and the stator is positioned to receive material from the sieve discharge, effectively using the combine's own structure to accommodate the destruction mechanism without requiring additional space
3Reliability
If traditional destructor designs are used, then weed seed destruction occurs, but power consumption is excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor-stator assembly is designed to process only the chaff and weed seeds that are discharged from the sieve, rather than attempting to process all harvested material. This partial action approach focuses the destruction capability on the specific fraction of material containing weed seeds, reducing the overall power requirement compared to processing the entire crop volume
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the combine's existing rotational speed and power characteristics by connecting the rotor to the power take-off system. The rotor diameter, stator bar spacing, and rotational speed are optimized to achieve effective weed seed destruction at the available power levels, rather than requiring excessive power input
4Reliability
If rotor and stator are positioned at right angles to straw chopper, then weed seed destruction is effective, but the configuration increases spatial footprint
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor-stator assembly is positioned in the vertical dimension within the discharge housing, with the rotor axis horizontal and the stator bars arranged radially around it. This three-dimensional arrangement allows effective seed destruction to occur within the confined space of the discharge section without requiring additional horizontal area, utilizing the vertical and radial dimensions instead
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
The system achieves high weed seed devitalization rates with lower power requirements, reduced spatial footprint, and enhanced protection against foreign objects, while maintaining the harvester's efficiency and capacity.
Implementation Method 1
accelerate the discarded seeds in a direction centrifugally away from the rotor onto a stator including angularly adjustable stator surfaces around the axis
Implementation Method 2
cause repeated high speed impacts by a rotor mounted in one of a pair of side by side housings which accelerate the discarded seeds
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 2A
AI summary
Weed seeds are destroyed in the chaff from a combine harvester by repeated high speed impacts caused by a rotor mounted in one of a pair of side by side housings which accelerate the discarded seeds in a direction centrifugally away from the rotor onto a stator including angularly adjustable stator surfaces around the axis. Thus the discarded seeds rebound back and forth between the rotor and the stator to provide a plurality of impacts. The destructor is mounted on a suitable drive shaft within the straw path and the chaff and weed seed material is carried from the rear end of the sieve to the destructor on the straw chopper by one or more fans driving the material through a transfer duct.