Combine Harvester Feeder Housing Cleaning Blower
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing combine harvesters face issues with dust and crop fragments settling on the feeder housing, leading to weight increase, restricted vertical pivoting, and increased fuel consumption, as well as overloading the cleaning devices due to inadequate debris management.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning fan is strategically arranged to blow air transversely over the intake duct housing, preventing particle deposition and incorporating a suction duct with an exhaust fan to remove dust and debris before they reach the threshing unit, while an intermediate wall separates the side area from the intake channel to maintain mobility and prevent dust ingress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a conventional dirt deflector with a forward-sloping mat is used to prevent material accumulation, then material is prevented from settling on the intake chute housing, but the mat occupies space that restricts the feeder's pivoting range of motion
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful function of the conventional dirt deflector (occupying space and restricting pivoting) is extracted and replaced by a cleaning blower that removes dust particles through airflow without physically occupying the space needed for pivoting motion
Solution Approach 2:
A cleaning blower is introduced to generate airflow that blows dust and crop fragments off the intake chute housing surface, replacing the mechanical mat-based deflector with a pneumatic cleaning solution that does not restrict movement
2Adaptability or versatility
If the cleaning blower is positioned near the rear of the feed chute housing to avoid restricting vertical movement, then freedom of movement is maintained, but a portion of the top surface becomes protected from airflow causing material accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning blower is positioned at the rear and directs airflow forward along the top surface, utilizing the longitudinal dimension of the housing to ensure complete coverage without compromising vertical movement freedom
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning blower is positioned to blow airflow across the entire top surface before material can accumulate, preventing deposition in advance rather than removing accumulated material
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the cleaning blower is positioned forward to improve dust removal coverage, then material accumulation is prevented, but the blower restricts the vertical pivoting movement of the feed chute
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning blower is positioned in the longitudinal direction at the rear of the housing and directs airflow forward, utilizing the length of the housing to achieve complete surface coverage without occupying vertical space that would restrict pivoting movement
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 solution effectively minimizes the formation of obstructive dirt layers on the feeder housing, maintains the freedom of movement, and reduces the load on cleaning devices by efficiently removing dust and debris, ensuring optimal operation and reduced fuel consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a cleaning blower (15) arranged to blow air across an exposed top of the intake duct housing (11) transversely to the conveying direction of the intake channel (10), thereby blowing particles capable of accumulating on the exposed top sideways
Implementation Method 2
a suction fan arranged to extract dust-laden air from the intake channel, thereby removing dust and fine crop debris from the intake channel before they reach the threshing unit
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A combine harvester comprises a feeder housing (8) through which a feeder channel (10) runs for conveying crop from a header (1) to a threshing unit (9). A cleaning blower (15) is arranged on the feeder housing (8) to blow across an exposed upper surface (11) of the feeder housing (8) transversely to the conveying direction of the feeder channel (10).