Combine Yield Measurement via Grain Volume Accumulation Time
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current combines face challenges in accurately measuring small increments in grain weight during harvesting, leading to difficulties in evaluating yield distribution across field segments due to factors like sunshine exposure and fertilization irregularities, and existing solutions do not adequately consider travel speed or grain growth conditions.
Innovation Solution
The combine calculates yield per unit travel by measuring the time it takes for grains to reach a predetermined volume in a yield measurement container, using this data along with travel speed to determine yield per unit area or segment, and incorporates a taste measurement container to assess taste values like moisture and protein content, allowing for precise evaluation of field segments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If grain weight is measured from the load of the grain tank, then weight measurement can be performed, but significant cost is required for realization of accurate measurement of small increment in grain weight
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the grain flow into two paths: most grains go to the grain tank while a portion is diverted to a yield measurement container. This segmentation allows separate measurement of small grain increments without being overwhelmed by the total grain tank weight, solving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The yield measurement container acts as an intermediary device that captures a sample of grains flowing to the grain tank. By measuring yield through this intermediate container rather than directly measuring the grain tank load, the system achieves accurate small increment measurement without requiring expensive high-precision load cells
2Measurement precision
If yield measurement container accumulates predetermined volume of grains, then yield per unit travel can be calculated, but measurement configuration becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The yield measurement container serves multiple functions: it accumulates grains for yield measurement, acts as a flow divider, and provides a reference volume for calculations. By making this single component multi-functional, the invention achieves accurate yield measurement without adding separate complex subsystems
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the combine's own travel speed and the natural grain flow rate to automatically calculate yield per unit travel. The measurement container self-regulates by accumulating a predetermined volume, and the system automatically performs calculations using readily available parameters, eliminating the need for complex external measurement equipment
3Measurement precision
If weight measurement is performed on accumulated grains including grain tank weight, then total yield can be measured, but measurement error occurs due to factors like adhesion of raindrops
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts a small sample of grains from the main grain flow and measures this sample separately in the yield measurement container. By taking out only the necessary measurement sample rather than measuring all accumulated grains in the grain tank, the system eliminates errors from environmental factors like raindrop adhesion that affect large-scale weight measurements
Data Source
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AI summary
A combine includes: a yield measurement container (32) having a yield receiving opening (32a) for receiving at least some of grains supplied to a grain tank (15) which accumulates grains obtained by threshing, a yield discharge opening (32b) for discharging received grains, and a yield shutter (34) for opening and closing the yield discharge opening (32b); a yield measurement section for detecting, while the yield shutter (34) is closed, that a predetermined volume of grains has been accumulated in the yield measurement container (32) and then outputting a detection signal; a time calculation section for calculating, based on the detection signal, an accumulating time required to accumulate the predetermined volume of grains; and a yield calculation section for calculating a yield per unit travel based on a travel speed and the accumulation time.