Corn Head Catch Plate Nonplanar Geometry Crop Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional corn head assemblies for combine harvesters experience significant crop loss due to harvested corn sliding away from the auger, especially in areas of poor crop density or at the end of harvesting rows, as the smooth areas behind the stripping plates fail to retain the corn effectively.
Innovation Solution
The corn head assembly incorporates a catch plate with a non-planar geometry, positioned rearward of the stripping plate, which engages the crop material and prevents it from sliding down, ensuring that the corn is directed into the channel and conveyed to the combine feeding location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If smooth areas are used behind the stripping plate to slide harvested corn, then corn can be easily conveyed to the auger, but corn slides away from the auger when crop density is low, causing crop loss
Solution Approach 1:
The breast plate is designed with different surface characteristics in different regions: a smooth area for easy corn conveyance and a textured area for crop material retention. This local differentiation allows the single component to fulfill both functions - easy conveyance where needed and prevention of loss where critical.
Solution Approach 2:
The breast plate surface is segmented into distinct functional zones - a smooth lower area for conveying corn to the auger and a textured upper area for retaining crop material. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function optimally without interfering with the other.
2Productivity
If smooth surfaces are used for corn sliding, then harvesting efficiency is improved, but crop material falls to the ground in areas of poor crop density
Solution Approach 1:
The breast plate incorporates a textured area with increased surface area and irregular geometry in the region where crop material is vulnerable to falling, while maintaining smooth surfaces in areas where efficient sliding is needed. This local quality variation resolves the contradiction between productivity and material retention.
3Productivity
If the breast plate surface is made smooth for easy corn flow, then crop processing is efficient, but the corn head assembly cannot retain crop material when flow is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The breast plate is designed with a textured area featuring increased surface area and irregular geometry positioned to retain crop material, while smooth areas maintain efficient flow. This local differentiation allows the system to maintain high productivity while improving reliability of crop material retention under varying flow conditions.
Data Source
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AI summary
A corn head assembly for a combine harvester capable of preventing or inhibiting grain from sliding off a row unit without inhibiting crop flow is disclosed. The corn head assembly is attached to a combine harvester for harvesting crop material. The corn head assembly includes a frame (20), a conveyor (30) and a plurality of row units (40). Each row unit includes a catch plate (50) for facingly engaging a flow of crop material and includes a facing surface (51) having a nonplanar geometry. The nonplanar geometry is at least one of corrugations, scales, waves, chevron-shaped corrugations, weld beads, rods, and terraces.