Cranked Scraper Floor Reduces Tractive Force in Crop Loading Wagons

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current self-loading wagons face challenges with increased loading capacity, energy consumption, and accident risks due to high tractive forces and jamming issues caused by large wheel diameters and inclined scraper floors, which compromise tire size and loading volume.

Innovation Solution

A chain conveyor system with multiple bends in the cranked area reduces reaction forces, allowing larger wheel diameters and an adjustable feed column for improved crop handling and reduced energy consumption, along with a control device for optimizing feed conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If larger wheel diameters are used to minimize ground contact pressure and rolling resistance, then energy consumption is reduced and soil protection is improved, but the distance between the loading wagon floor and the ground increases, requiring a greater scraper floor incline angle that increases tractive force requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverolling resistanceVSAvoidtractive force
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The scraper floor is divided into multiple sections with different incline angles. The first section has a steeper incline for effective crop gathering, while the second section has a reduced incline angle that decreases tractive force requirements. This segmentation allows the system to benefit from large wheel diameters (reducing rolling resistance) while maintaining effective crop collection without excessive tractive force demands.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If the scraper floor incline angle is increased to improve crop collection efficiency, then loading capacity is improved, but tractive force requirements increase drastically leading to jamming and accumulation problems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveloading capacityVSAvoidtractive force
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The scraper floor is divided into multiple sections with different incline angles. The first section has a steeper incline for effective crop gathering, while the second section has a reduced incline angle that decreases tractive force requirements. This segmentation allows the system to benefit from large wheel diameters (reducing rolling resistance) while maintaining effective crop collection without excessive tractive force demands.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The scraper floor includes a curved transition area between the first and second sections. This curved transition smoothly connects the steeper first section to the gentler second section, allowing for gradual angle changes that reduce abrupt force variations and minimize the risk of crop jamming while maintaining loading efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Volume of moving object

If the scraper floor is cranked at a high incline angle to maximize loading volume, then more crop can be collected, but the feed column becomes difficult to move during unloading and jamming risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveloading volumeVSAvoidfeed column mobility
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The scraper floor is divided into multiple sections with different incline angles. The first section has a steeper incline for effective crop gathering, while the second section has a reduced incline angle that decreases tractive force requirements. This segmentation allows the system to benefit from large wheel diameters (reducing rolling resistance) while maintaining effective crop collection without excessive tractive force demands.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The scraper floor system allows for dynamic adjustment of the feed column position. The feed column can be moved to different positions along the scraper floor, including areas with reduced incline angles, making it easier to access and maneuver during unloading operations while maintaining optimal loading volume capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Productivity

If the scraper floor incline is steep to overcome the height difference between ground and loading floor, then loading capacity is improved, but high peaks in tractive force occur leading to disruptions and safety risks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveloading capacityVSAvoidoperational stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The scraper floor is divided into multiple sections with different incline angles. The first section has a steeper incline for effective crop gathering, while the second section has a reduced incline angle that decreases tractive force requirements. This segmentation allows the system to benefit from large wheel diameters (reducing rolling resistance) while maintaining effective crop collection without excessive tractive force demands.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The scraper floor includes a curved transition area between the first and second sections. This curved transition smoothly connects the steeper first section to the gentler second section, allowing for gradual angle changes that reduce abrupt force variations and minimize the risk of crop jamming while maintaining loading efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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

This design reduces energy consumption, minimizes jamming, and enhances loading capacity while reducing accident risks and environmental impact by enabling larger wheel diameters and better crop handling.

Implementation Method 1

the chain conveyor (15) is bent at least several times in the cranked area (27) of the conveyor floor (19), or at least a double cranking and bending in the transition area from the inclined plane (22) to the predominantly horizontal plane (21), the reaction forces or the tensile forces in the traction mechanism (14) of the conveyor floor (19) are significantly reduced

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

It is desirable to equip these axles with running wheels with a larger diameter in order to minimize the ground contact pressure and thus the sinking depth into the ground as much as possible

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure distribution: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 3

the harvested crop after it has been transferred by the pick-up to the cutting device also has to overcome a greater lifting height, which is accomplished by the fact that the floor of the loading wagon and thus also the scraper floor is initially an inclined plane which merges into an approximately horizontal plane

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravitational force: Gravitation

Implementation Method 4

the harvested crop is also conveyed vertically upwards above the conveying rotor and finally, as the conveying progresses, reaches the so-called roof plate as an upright feeding column and is thus subjected to vertical compression

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Data Source

PatentEP2149292B1Loading vehicle for collecting crops lying on the ground
Publication Date: 2010.09.22 CLAAS SAULGAU GMBH
  • EP2149292B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2149292B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2149292B1 patent drawingFigure 2a

AI summary

The loading vehicle (1) has a pick up collecting device and a revolving rotary conveyor rotor mounted upstream. Another offset upstream mounted scraper floor has a revolving link chain. One section is formed as a horizontal part and other section is formed as a sloping part of a scraper floor. The scraper floor has other section as a crank part with two kinks.