Multifunction Conveyor Side Extrusions for Lightweight High-Capacity Unloading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural combines face limitations with screw conveyors due to their limited capacity and weight issues, making it impractical to use endless belt conveyors for high-capacity unloading systems, as they require numerous heavy parts and are difficult to assemble for use on rough terrain.
Innovation Solution
The use of light metal extrusions to form the frame of the endless belt conveyor, eliminating additional parts and reducing weight, with specific extruded profiles performing multiple functions, such as supporting idler rollers and the conveyor belt, allowing for a more efficient and precise manufacturing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If an endless belt conveyor is used to replace the screw conveyor, then the unloading capacity can be increased, but the weight and complexity of the conveyor system increases due to multiple idler rollers, heavy frames, and numerous parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate components (frame members, idler roller supports, belt support structures) into integrated extruded profiles. The extruded side rails incorporate built-in features that simultaneously provide structural support, guide the belt, and support idler rollers, eliminating the need for separate fasteners, brackets, and assembly steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The extruded side rails serve multiple functions: they form the structural frame, provide guides for the endless belt, support the idler rollers, and enable quick assembly through their integrated design. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of parts while maintaining the conveyor's capability to handle high unloading rates.
2Productivity
If an endless belt conveyor is used to replace the screw conveyor, then the unloading capacity can be increased, but the assembly time increases due to numerous parts and complex assembly process
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor system is divided into modular sections with standardized extruded profiles that can be pre-assembled and then quickly connected on-site. The extruded side rails are designed as discrete, transportable segments that simplify the assembly process while maintaining the overall high-capacity functionality of the conveyor.
3Productivity
If the screw conveyor is enlarged to increase unloading capacity, then more grain can be unloaded per unit time, but the weight increases causing overbalancing of the combine
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental design parameters from a heavy screw conveyor to a lighter endless belt conveyor system. This parameter change allows achieving higher unloading capacity without the weight penalty, as the belt conveyor can handle larger volumes of grain at higher speeds without requiring a proportional increase in structural mass.
Data Source
AI summary
A first extruded side rail (102, 104, 120, 122) of an endless belt conveyor (100) includes several extruded profiles (298, 299, 309, 319, 329, 335, 337, 341, 347, 371, 375, and 381). The extruded profiles (298, 299, 309, 319, 329, 335, 337, 341, 347, 371, 375, and 381) perform different functions that permit the conveyor (100) to be made lighter and of fewer parts and with greater precision.