Crop Residue Distributor Assembly With Coupled Moving Flow Divider
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing crop residue distributor assemblies in combine harvesters face limitations due to fixed middle flow dividers that restrict the lateral adjustment range of adjustable vanes and result in suboptimal residue distribution when vanes are not in the neutral position, leading to uneven distribution patterns.
Innovation Solution
A crop residue distributor assembly with adjustable vanes and a flow divider that moves together with the vanes during adjustment, featuring a coupling mechanism with an adjustment lever and diverging walls to enhance the lateral adjustment range and improve distribution uniformity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fixed middle flow dividers are used, then streaking in the longitudinal median plane is avoided, but the lateral adjustment range of adjustable vanes is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The flow divider is made adjustable rather than fixed, allowing it to move laterally together with the adjacent vanes. This dynamic configuration enables the flow divider to maintain its position relative to the vanes during adjustment, eliminating the limitation on lateral adjustment range while preserving its function to prevent streaking in the longitudinal median plane.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow divider is coupled with the adjustable vanes through a coupling mechanism, causing them to move together as a coordinated system. This merging of functions allows the flow divider to adapt to different vane positions while maintaining its flow-dividing function, resolving the contradiction between maintaining distribution uniformity and enabling full lateral adjustment.
2Device complexity
If fixed middle flow dividers are used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but distribution uniformity is compromised when vanes are not in neutral position
Solution Approach 1:
The flow divider transitions from a fixed static structure to a dynamic adjustable component that can change its lateral position. This allows the flow divider to maintain optimal symmetry relative to the vanes regardless of their adjustment position, ensuring consistent distribution uniformity while introducing only minimal additional complexity through the coupling mechanism.
3Adaptability or versatility
If adjustable vanes are used, then adaptability to various field conditions is improved, but interference from fixed flow dividers causes uneven distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The flow divider is made dynamically adjustable to move laterally with the vanes, maintaining its functional relationship with them during adjustment. This ensures that the flow divider continues to effectively prevent streaking in the longitudinal median plane regardless of the vanes' position, preserving distribution uniformity while allowing full adaptability to various field conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling mechanism acts as an intermediary between the adjustable vanes and the flow divider, coordinating their movements to ensure they adjust together. This intermediary connection allows the system to maintain optimal performance across the full range of adjustments without interference between components.
Data Source
AI summary
A crop residue distributor assembly for a combine harvester. The crop residue distributor includes a straw distributor hood, below which a number of adjustable vanes is arranged on both sides of a longitudinal median plane of the crop residue distributor assembly. A flow divider is arranged adjacent to the longitudinal media plane with diverging walls. The flow divider is coupled to the vanes in such a way that the flow divider moves together with the vanes when the vanes are adjusted.