Elevator Spreader Conveyor for Air-Based Debris Separation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural harvesters face difficulties in effectively separating desired crop material from unwanted debris due to the harvested material often coming in large clumps or slugs, making it challenging for air-based cleaning systems to efficiently remove leaves and trash.
Innovation Solution
The harvester incorporates an elevator with a spreader conveyor and a secondary extractor, where the spreader conveyor features a smooth or ridged belt that spreads out the harvested material into a continuous flow, and an extractor fan creates an air flow to pull debris into an inlet and expel it through an outlet, with adjustable belt speed and air inlet angle for enhanced cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If harvested material is conveyed in large clumps or slugs, then the material can be transported efficiently, but the air-based cleaning system cannot effectively remove leaves and trash
Solution Approach 1:
The harvested material flow is segmented from large clumps into smaller portions by the spreader conveyor, which distributes the material in a more uniform and dispersed manner, allowing the air-based cleaning system to effectively separate debris from individual material pieces
Solution Approach 2:
The spreader conveyor introduces a new dimension of material distribution by spreading the harvested material across a wider area and in a more uniform pattern, transforming the concentrated clump flow into a dispersed stream that facilitates effective air-based cleaning
2Productivity
If the spreader conveyor speed is increased to improve material flow, then productivity increases, but the separation efficiency may decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The spreader conveyor speed is made adjustable and can be dynamically optimized to achieve the right balance between material flow rate and separation efficiency, allowing the system to adapt to different operating conditions and material types
3Reliability
If the air flow strength is increased to remove more debris, then cleaning effectiveness improves, but desired crop material may be drawn into the inlet
Solution Approach 1:
The spreader conveyor performs preliminary action by dispersing and positioning the harvested material in an optimal configuration before it reaches the air-based cleaning system, reducing the air flow strength needed for effective cleaning and minimizing the risk of drawing desired crop material into the inlet
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 system improves the cleaning process by ensuring a smoother material flow, allowing the extractor fan to more effectively remove debris while preserving desired crop material, enhancing the separation efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The secondary extractor can include an extractor fan that creates an air flow to pull air into the inlet of the secondary extractor and expel the air out of the outlet of the secondary extractor. The air flow created by the extractor fan can extract the debris from the harvested material
Implementation Method 2
The spreader conveyor can throw the harvested material dispensed from the distal end of the spreader conveyor into the air flow created by the extractor fan of the secondary extractor
Data Source
AI summary
A harvester that includes an elevator, a spreader conveyor and a secondary extractor. The elevator includes a lower proximal end that receives harvested material and a higher distal end that dispenses the harvested material. The spreader conveyor includes a proximal end that receives the harvested material from the elevator and a distal end that dispenses the harvested material. The secondary extractor includes an inlet and an outlet, where it extracts debris from the harvested material dispensed from the distal end of the spreader conveyor into the inlet and expels the debris out of the outlet. The spreader conveyor can include a spreader belt that rotates in an endless loop, where the harvested material received from the elevator spreads out on the spreader belt. An extractor fan can create air flow to pull debris through the secondary extractor. The spreader conveyor can throw harvested material into the air flow.