Draper Platform Auger and Feed Drum Crop Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Certain types of crops accumulate and compress at the central aperture of a draper platform in combine harvesters, leading to slowed or stopped crop flow, which affects the efficiency of crop harvesting.
Innovation Solution
A draper platform with a crop auger assembly featuring retractable fingers on both side drapers and a center feed drum with conically shaped portions, where the augers rotate to move cut crop towards the center, reducing buildup by utilizing the space beneath the augers for efficient crop processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a central drum is used to move cut crop, then crop movement is achieved, but bulky cut crop accumulates and compresses at the central aperture causing flow slowdown or stoppage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the crop moving function into two separate components: side augers that collect and transport crop laterally, and a central feed drum that feeds crop to the aperture. This segmentation prevents bulky crop accumulation at the aperture by distributing the moving action across multiple components with different functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The side augers act as intermediary components between the draper conveyors and the central feed drum. They collect crop from the drapers and gradually convey it toward the center, preventing direct accumulation at the aperture and ensuring continuous flow to the feed drum.
2Force
If a central drum compresses cut crop to move it, then crop is propelled forward, but crop buildup occurs before or at the aperture
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the compression function from the central feed drum and relocates it to the side augers. The augers perform gradual compression and conveyance of crop toward the center, while the feed drum focuses solely on feeding crop to the aperture without causing buildup.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds a lateral dimension to crop collection using side augers positioned at both sides of the draper platform. These augers collect crop from the outer drapers and convey it inward, creating a multi-dimensional crop flow pattern that prevents one-dimensional accumulation at the aperture.
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 solution enhances crop flow and reduces clogging, increasing harvesting efficiency and minimizing maintenance downtime by effectively moving cut crop from the draper header to the collector.
Implementation Method 1
a crop auger assembly including a first auger disposed at the first side draper and a second auger disposed at the second side draper, wherein each of the first auger and the second auger include a cylinder having a surface and a flight extending from the surface, wherein the augers rotate about an auger axis
Implementation Method 2
a feed drum disposed at the center draper, the feed drum including a plurality of fingers, wherein the feed drum rotates about a drum axis; wherein the feed drum includes a first end portion, a second end portion and a central portion disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion
Data Source
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AI summary
A harvesting assembly for harvesting a crop including a cutting knife configured to provide cut crop and a draper platform including a first side draper and a second side draper. A crop auger assembly includes a first auger disposed at the first side draper and a second auger disposed at the second side draper, wherein the first auger and the second auger each include a cylinder having a surface, a flight extending from the surface, and a plurality of fingers extending from the surface and beyond an exposed edge of the flight, wherein the crop auger rotates about an auger axis. A feed drum is disposed at a center draper wherein the feed drum includes a plurality of fingers.