Flexible Brush Rotor for Gentle Crop Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The rotary threshing and separating system in agricultural harvesters is unable to produce straw with a length equal to that of conventional cylinder machines, resulting in shorter material due to harsher handling.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating brushes with flexible fingers into the rotor of the threshing and separating system to engage and separate crop material more gently, thereby reducing breakage and preserving the length of non-grain crop material.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional rotor design with rigid separators is used, then threshing efficiency is improved, but non-grain crop material is broken and length is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethreshing efficiencyVSAvoidstraw length

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical parameters of the rotor separators from rigid to flexible, and from fixed to spring-loaded. This parameter change allows the separators to adapt to crop material variations while maintaining threshing efficiency and preventing breakage of non-grain crop material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic elements (springs) to the rotor separators, transforming them from static rigid structures to dynamic spring-loaded components. This enables the separators to flex and adapt during operation, reducing harsh handling of crop material while maintaining effective threshing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If brush devices are attached to rotor, then gentle handling of crop material is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecrop material breakageVSAvoidrotor structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the brush device into modular components (brushes attached to individual spring-loaded separators). This segmentation allows for easier manufacturing, assembly, and maintenance while achieving the desired gentle handling of crop material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces springs as intermediary elements between the rotor structure and the brush devices. These springs act as mediators that provide both the gentle handling function and the mechanical connection, simplifying the overall attachment mechanism while achieving the desired crop material handling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 use of brushes in the rotor allows for the production of longer non-grain crop material by reducing harsh handling and breakage, while also simplifying the attachment and retention of the brushes on the rotor.

Implementation Method 1

at least one brush device including a plurality of fingers which are flexible

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS12317780B2Brush system for a threshing and separating system of an agricultural harvester

Publication Date: 2025.06.03 BLUE LEAF I P INC

AI summary

An agricultural harvester includes: a chassis; and a threshing and separating system coupled with the chassis, the threshing and separating system including a rotor including at least one brush device including a plurality of fingers which are flexible, the plurality of fingers being configured for engaging a crop material.