Conditioner Unit Hydraulic Roll Adjustment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing conditioner units for agricultural crops require manual and time-consuming adjustments of roller pressure and have issues with crop material becoming wrapped around the rolls, necessitating operators to leave the tractor cab for adjustments and cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic actuator and circuit system that allows rolls to be adjusted for pressure and easily opened for cleaning, enabling remote operation and reducing mechanical complexity, using a double-acting hydraulic cylinder to switch between closed and open configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual spring adjustment is used to control roller pressure, then the roller pressure can be adjusted, but the operator must leave the tractor cab which is time-consuming and inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical spring adjustment system with a hydraulic actuator system controlled from the tractor cab. The hydraulic cylinder with piston and rod mechanism allows remote adjustment of roller pressure through fluid pressure, eliminating the need for the operator to physically access and manually adjust the springs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a hydraulic circuit with a hydraulic cylinder to control the pressing force between rollers. By using hydraulic fluid pressure, the system enables remote and precise adjustment of roller pressure from the tractor cab, significantly improving operational convenience and reducing adjustment time.
2Ease of operation
If mechanical pressing is used to force rolls apart for cleaning, then the rolls can be separated, but it is difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical leverage system with a hydraulic actuator system. The hydraulic cylinder can easily push the rollers apart by controlling the hydraulic pressure, eliminating the need for operators to use levers and physical force to separate the rollers for cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydraulic circuit enables easy separation of rollers for cleaning by directing hydraulic pressure to push the roller assembly apart. This hydraulic mechanism significantly reduces the effort and time required compared to manual mechanical methods.
3Productivity
If crop material becomes wrapped around rolls, then conditioning can continue, but the operator must leave the cab to cut away the wrapped crop which is inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual knife-based crop removal with a hydraulic actuator system. When crop material wraps around the rollers, the operator can use the hydraulic system to push the rollers apart from the cab, allowing easy removal of wrapped material without leaving the tractor.
4Ease of operation
If a hydraulic actuator is used to control roll pressure and separation, then operational convenience is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic actuator system serves multiple functions: it controls roller pressing force during conditioning, separates rollers for cleaning operations, and enables remote operation from the tractor cab. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by consolidating multiple operations into a single integrated system.
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
Simplifies operator tasks, enhances efficiency, and reduces costs by allowing remote control of roller pressure and easy cleaning without leaving the tractor cab, improving the overall operation of the conditioner unit.
Implementation Method 1
a hydraulic actuator connected to at least one of the rolls and a hydraulic circuit that supplies hydraulic fluid to the actuator
Data Source
AI summary
A conditioner unit (6) for conditioning an agricultural crop material comprises a pair of rolls (20a, 20b) configured for rotation in opposite directions and providing a nip (22) through which crop material passes. An adjusting mechanism (31) is provided for adjusting a pressing force applied by the rolls (20a, 20b) to the crop material as it passes through the nip. The adjusting mechanism (31) includes at least one hydraulic actuator (30) connected to at least one of the rolls (20a, 20b) and a hydraulic circuit (33) that supplies hydraulic fluid to the actuator (30), the hydraulic circuit being configured so that in a first operational mode the rolls (20a, 20b) are pressed towards one another and in a second operational mode the rolls (20a, 20b) are pushed apart to provide a gap between the rolls.