Combine Harvester Grain Cleaner Vibratory Sheet Decoupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional combine harvester grain cleaners require high energy to operate and suffer from grain spillage due to the reciprocating motion of heavy clean grain and tailings sheets, leading to reduced yield and increased wear.
Innovation Solution
A grain cleaner design featuring a moveable upper framework for sieves and a fixed, vibratory lower framework for clean grain and tailings sheets, decoupling the sheets from the sieves and reducing energy requirements, with vibratory motion induced by a motor or linkage to minimize grain loss through improved sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If clean grain and tailings sheets are connected to the reciprocating lower shoe, then the sheets move with the sieves, but this causes grain spillage and increases energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the grain cleaner into separate functional modules: the reciprocating lower shoe with sieves, and the stationary lower framework with grain sheets. By segmenting the system, the grain sheets are decoupled from the reciprocating motion, eliminating grain spillage while reducing energy consumption since only the sieves require reciprocating drive rather than the entire assembly including heavy grain sheets.
Solution Approach 2:
The grain sheets are extracted from the reciprocating lower shoe assembly and relocated to the stationary lower framework. This extraction removes the source of grain spillage (motion of sheets) and reduces the mass that requires reciprocating motion, thereby lowering energy consumption.
2Stability of the object's composition
If clean grain and tailings sheets are made heavy for stability, then the sheets remain in place during operation, but this increases energy requirements to move the sheets reciprocatingly
Solution Approach 1:
The heavy grain sheets are extracted from the reciprocating lower shoe and placed in the stationary lower framework. This eliminates the need to move heavy sheets reciprocatingly, dramatically reducing energy requirements while maintaining sheet stability through the stationary framework support.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of moving heavy grain sheets reciprocatingly to maintain contact with sieves, the patent inverts the approach by making the sheets stationary and supporting them from a fixed framework. The sieves reciprocate over the stationary sheets, achieving the same functional contact with minimal energy expenditure.
3Productivity
If the lower shoe is made moveable to separate grain and tailings, then cleaning efficiency improves, but this causes grain loss through spillage from the moving sheets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the lower shoe assembly from the grain sheet support structure. The lower shoe with sieves remains moveable for efficient grain separation, while the grain sheets are supported by a stationary lower framework. This segmentation allows the sieves to reciprocate for cleaning efficiency while the stationary sheets prevent grain spillage.
Solution Approach 2:
The stationary lower framework acts as an intermediary structure that supports the grain sheets independently of the reciprocating lower shoe. This intermediary framework allows the sieves to move for cleaning while the sheets remain stationary to prevent spillage, resolving the contradiction between cleaning efficiency and grain retention.
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 design reduces energy consumption, minimizes grain spillage, and enhances the durability and efficiency of the grain cleaning process by decoupling the sheets from the sieves and using vibratory motion to move grains effectively.
Implementation Method 1
the or each said grain and/or tailings sheet being vibratory in use and connected to a vibrator that causes movement of grain thereon in a predetermined direction through grain and/or tailings sheet vibration at a higher frequency than the frequency of reciprocation of the one or more grain sieves
Data Source
AI summary
A combine harvester grain cleaner. The grain cleaner includes an upper, relatively moveable framework supporting one or more grain sieves, one or more sources of drive for causing reciprocating movement of the one or more grain sieves, a lower, relatively fixed framework supporting one or more grain or tailings sheets, and a vibrator connected to the one or more grain and tailings sheets for causing a vibratory motion thereof and for, through the vibratory motion, causing movement of grain thereon in a predetermined direction. The vibratory motion has a higher frequency than a frequency of the reciprocation of the one or more grain sieves.