Conical Screw Conveyor for Uniform Crop Swath Formation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing harvesting devices with transverse screw conveyors are prone to clogging during crop material transport, which increases the risk of material build-up and non-uniform swath formation.
Innovation Solution
A conical screw conveyor design with a cone angle between 1° and 5°, a vertically or horizontally slanting central axis, and a cylindrical trommel, along with a trough-like crop flow channel, reduces clogging risks by increasing transport capacity and ensuring uniform swath formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a cylindrical screw conveyor is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the danger of clogging increases in the transverse conveying direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the screw conveyor from a cylindrical shape to a conical shape, where the diameter increases in the transverse conveying direction. This parameter change creates progressively larger conveying channels that prevent crop material buildup and clogging, while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standard conical fabrication methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a dimensional change by transitioning from a uniform cylindrical cross-section to a conical cross-section that varies along the conveying direction. This dimensional variation creates expanding conveying passages that eliminate clogging issues while preserving structural simplicity through the regular conical geometry.
2Productivity
If a conical screw conveyor with expanding envelope surface is used, then the transport capacity increases and clogging risk decreases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by defining a conical envelope surface with a controlled apex angle (1°-5°) that gradually expands the conveying capacity. This controlled parameter change increases productivity by allowing larger crop material quantities to be transported without clogging, while the gradual expansion maintains manufacturing simplicity and avoids excessive geometric complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the longitudinal central axis runs horizontally, then the discharge opening is at the same level, but the crop material builds up in vertical orientation creating non-uniform swath
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces asymmetry by tilting the longitudinal central axis of the conical screw conveyor vertically slanting upward or horizontally slanting backward. This asymmetric orientation causes the crop material to be discharged in a controlled manner that lays it down uniformly on the swath, eliminating the vertical buildup problem associated with horizontal discharge while maintaining operational simplicity.
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 conical screw conveyor design allows for efficient transportation of larger quantities of crop material with reduced clogging, resulting in a more uniform swath and increased operating efficiency by minimizing material build-up and ensuring effective crop material delivery.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one transverse conveying device is configured as a screw conveyor. Such a screw conveyor comprises a trommel, also known as a worm tube. The trommel or the worm tube carries spiral conveying elements, which stick out in the radial direction of the trommel or worm tube from the trommel or worm tube and travel around it in spirals.
Implementation Method 2
the respective screw conveyor is conical or cone shaped, such that an envelope surface of the spiral conveying elements subtends a cone, which expands in the transverse conveying direction
Data Source
AI summary
Harvesting device, having cutting members (14) for separating the crop material and/or having receiving members for collecting the crop material, having at least one transverse conveying device (19) for delivering the separated and/or collected crop material in a transverse conveying direction (20) running transversely to the harvesting direction, wherein the at least one transverse conveying device (19) is configured as a screw conveyor (21), comprising a trommel (22) and spiral conveying elements (23) sticking out from the trommel (22) in its radial direction. The respective screw conveyor (21) is conical or cone shaped, such that an envelope surface (24) of the spiral conveying elements (23) subtends a cone, which expands in conical or cone-shaped manner looking in the transverse conveying direction.