Forage Harvester Delivery Spout With Adjustable Guide Plate

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing forage harvesters face challenges in efficiently and precisely controlling the delivery of crop material to collection vehicles, leading to potential crop losses and inefficient overloading.

Innovation Solution

A delivery spout with a movable guide plate that adjusts the flow cross-sectional area to control the flow speed and throwing distance, allowing for efficient and balanced filling of collection vessels with reduced power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the flow cross-sectional area in the delivery spout is reduced to increase flow velocity and throwing distance, then the throwing distance is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for movable guide plates and adjustment mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow velocityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The delivery spout incorporates movable guide plates that can be dynamically adjusted to change the flow cross-sectional area. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize flow velocity and throwing distance for different crop types and conditions without requiring multiple fixed spout designs, thereby resolving the contradiction between achieving high speed and maintaining device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the physical parameter of flow cross-sectional area by adjusting the position of guide plates within the delivery spout. This parameter change enables continuous control of flow velocity and throwing distance, allowing optimization for different operational requirements while using a single spout structure rather than multiple fixed configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If the flow cross-sectional area is reduced to control throwing distance, then the throwing distance control precision is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to the need for manual or automated adjustment mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethrowing distance control precisionVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The delivery spout system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor crop flow characteristics and automatically adjust guide plate positions to maintain optimal throwing distance. This feedback control allows precise throwing distance control while reducing the operational burden on the driver, as the system self-regulates based on real-time conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The guide plates are designed to be self-adjusting based on crop flow conditions, reducing the need for manual intervention. The system serves itself by automatically optimizing the flow cross-sectional area to achieve desired throwing distance, thereby maintaining precision while improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Speed

If the accelerator power is increased to increase throwing distance, then the throwing distance is improved, but the use of energy deteriorates due to higher power consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethrowing distanceVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The delivery spout utilizes pneumatic principles by optimizing air flow through the channel using movable guide plates. By controlling the flow cross-sectional area, the system creates more efficient air currents that entrain crop material without requiring increased accelerator power. This pneumatic optimization achieves greater throwing distance with the same or reduced power input.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the flow dynamics parameters by adjusting the guide plate positions to optimize the relationship between air flow and crop material transport. This parameter optimization allows the accelerator to operate at lower power levels while still achieving effective throwing distance, as the improved flow efficiency compensates for the reduced power input.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Enables quick and efficient overloading with minimized crop losses by controlling the flow speed and throwing distance, optimizing power usage in the harvester, and allowing for semi-automated or fully automated operation.

Implementation Method 1

the guide plate is movable to adjust an effective flow cross sectional area in the vicinity of the entrance end, thereby to adjust a flow speed from the delivery end

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlow velocity control through cross-sectional area adjustment:

Implementation Method 2

an accelerator is used to assist in feeding the crop through the machine. It helps in breaking down the crop material and ensuring a consistent flow of material through the harvester

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMaterial acceleration and flow control:

Data Source

PatentEP4677991A1A forage harvester

Publication Date: 2026.01.14 AGCO INT GMBH

Figure 1
Figure 2~3

AI summary

This disclosure provides a delivery spout for a forage harvester in which a guide plate is provided in the vicinity of an entrance end of the delivery spout, and opposite to a region of the delivery spout at which material is received from a processing system of the forage harvester. The guide plate is movable to adjust an effective flow cross sectional area in the vicinity of the entrance end, thereby to adjust a flow speed from the delivery end.