Grain Harvesting Implement with Modular Width and Speed Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing self-propelled agricultural machines face issues such as transportation difficulties due to platform width, productivity losses from matter flowback, soil compaction, and energy inefficiencies due to constant input speed, leading to operational problems and accidents.
Innovation Solution
A grain harvesting implement with an articulation system for reduced width during transportation, an independent ground-tracing system for terrain adaptation, and a feeding speed control mechanism that adjusts proportionally to equipment speed, along with an extractor slat system to prevent matter flowback, ensuring steady inflow and minimizing losses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the platform width is increased to improve harvesting capacity, then more rows can be harvested simultaneously, but transportation difficulties and accidents increase
Solution Approach 1:
The harvesting platform is divided into multiple independent modular units, each capable of harvesting one or more rows. These modules can be configured in different arrangements and can be detached or folded for transportation, allowing the platform to maintain high harvesting capacity while reducing transportation width when needed.
2Productivity
If the gathering band speed is increased to match higher driving speed, then productivity improves, but matter flowback and losses occur
Solution Approach 1:
The gathering band speed is made dynamically adjustable and is automatically controlled based on real-time detection of matter flow conditions. When flowback is detected, the system reduces gathering band speed to prevent losses; when flow is smooth, speed is increased to maintain high productivity. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between speed and flowback prevention.
3Device complexity
If constant input speed is maintained to simplify control, then system stability is improved, but energy waste occurs due to lack of matter or choking due to excessive matter
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor matter flow conditions and automatically adjust the input speed of the harvesting system. When matter availability is low, speed is reduced to prevent energy waste; when matter flow is abundant, speed is increased to maximize productivity. This feedback-controlled speed adjustment maintains energy efficiency while preserving relatively simple control architecture.
4Adaptability or versatility
If ground-tracing mechanical system is used to adapt to terrain profile, then harvesting adaptability improves, but soil compaction occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses lightweight ground-tracing mechanical elements that provide sufficient terrain following capability without exerting excessive force on the soil. The ground-tracing components are designed with reduced weight and optimized contact characteristics to counterbalance the need for terrain adaptation while minimizing soil compaction effects.
5Loss of substance
If gathering height is reduced to improve harvesting quality, then matter flowback decreases, but productivity is reduced due to slower processing
Solution Approach 1:
The gathering height is made dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. The system automatically optimizes gathering height based on crop conditions, matter flow characteristics, and processing capacity. This allows the system to maintain low gathering height when quality is paramount while enabling higher gathering heights when productivity is the priority, resolving the contradiction through real-time adaptation.
Data Source
AI summary
An implement intended for harvesting and/or gathering farm produce is used together with a self-propelled agricultural machine, more specifically a grain harvester, in order to provide driving power for its crop processing systems. A top roller (11) is positioned at the rear end of each conveyor belt (1) whereby, internally and concentrically thereto, the supports (9) move in a continuous rotating movement with the slats (10); the conveyor belt (1) has electronics for adjusting the speeds of the machine and the belts, varying electronically between these magnitudes according to the proportionality parameter; in addition to also regulating the height of the conveyor belt (1B) through electronics and a pivoting device (26); the set of conveyor belts (1) may also be articulated into a transportation position.