Concave Transfer Plate for Even Crop Feeding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing combine harvesters face issues with material flow, leading to grain damage, increased fuel consumption, and downtime due to clogging and inefficient separation processes, especially in high-moisture or leafy crop conditions.
Innovation Solution
A concave design featuring axially extending members and a recessed transfer plate on the right side, which creates a feeding pocket to even out material flow and reduce grain impact damage, allowing for more efficient separation and lower engine horsepower requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the rotational speed of the rotor is increased to force material through the separation unit, then productivity is improved, but grain damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer plate acts as an intermediary component between the material flow and the separation unit. It creates a feeding pocket that accumulates and redistributes material, serving as a buffer that allows slower rotor operation while maintaining adequate material flow through the separation unit without increasing grain damage
2Productivity
If the rotational speed is increased to process large amounts of material, then productivity is improved, but fuel consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer plate serves as a mediating structure that enables efficient material flow through the separation unit at lower rotational speeds. By creating a feeding pocket that optimizes material distribution, it allows the system to process large amounts of material without requiring increased engine power or fuel consumption
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the concave design is modified to reduce material catching, then grain damage is reduced, but material flow control becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer plate divides the concave structure into distinct functional zones: a feeding pocket for material accumulation and redistribution, and an open area for material passage. This segmentation allows the design to simultaneously protect grain from damage while maintaining adequate material flow control to the separation unit
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a concave which has axially extending members and circumferentially extending members. With the round axially extending, members elevated, causing the crop to roll and break apart and a concave drop plate that serves as a reservoir to allowing much more even feeding of material across the entire width of the concave. The concave transfer plate allows a more efficient and complete separation process while reducing engine horsepower requirements, thus fuel consumption.