Grain Pan Ridges and Troughs for Combine Harvester Capacity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Combine harvesters face limitations in increasing capacity without expanding the cleaning unit's size, which affects grain cleanliness and loss rates, and existing methods to enhance capacity through pre-stratification are inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A grain pan with a transverse profile of ridges and troughs that funnels grain-rich material into discrete streams and elevates lighter material, combined with pressurized air nozzles to enhance stratification and airflow, allowing for increased capacity without enlarging the machine's spatial envelope.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the width of the cleaning shoe is increased to deliver increased machine capacity, then productivity increases, but the machine width increases which is limited by road transport legislation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the dimension of material distribution by creating a three-dimensional stratified structure within the existing cleaning shoe width. Instead of expanding horizontally, the system uses vertical layering (grain-rich bottom layer, grain-poor top layer) and longitudinal positioning (front delivery vs rear delivery) to increase capacity while maintaining the same machine width envelope
2Productivity
If the throughput of the cleaning shoe is increased with known technology, then productivity increases, but grain cleanliness and loss rate are adversely affected
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs preliminary stratification of the crop stream before it enters the cleaning shoe. By pre-separating the material into grain-rich and grain-poor layers and positioning them at different locations, the system prepares the material in advance for more effective cleaning at higher throughput rates, thereby maintaining grain cleanliness despite increased productivity
3Productivity
If the length of the chaffer is increased to increase capacity, then productivity increases, but the wheel base and turn radius increase which is undesirable
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing capacity along the longitudinal axis (which would require longer chaffer and larger wheel base), the invention utilizes the transverse dimension by creating vertical stratification and distributing material across different width positions. This allows capacity increase without extending the machine's length or requiring larger turn radius
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 increases the capacity of the cleaning system by effectively separating grain and lighter materials, reducing grain loss and improving cleanliness, while maintaining the machine's size constraints.
Implementation Method 1
a grain pan arranged to catch a crop stream, the grain pan being driven in an oscillating manner to convey the crop stream rearwardly
Implementation Method 2
a cleaning unit, or 'shoe', has directed therethrough a cleaning airstream which is typically generated by a cross-flow or centrifugal fan
Implementation Method 3
the cleaning airstream serves to blow the lighter material in a generally rearward direction over the sieves
Implementation Method 4
The grain pan comprises a conveyance floor with a floor profile which defines a transverse profile comprising ridges and troughs, the troughs providing a plurality of longitudinal channels
Data Source
AI summary
A combine harvester having a grain pan arranged to catch a crop stream, the grain pan being driven in an oscillating manner to convey the crop stream rearwardly to a rear edge. A cleaning unit including a fan for generating a cleaning airstream which is directed under the rear edge. The grain pan includes a floor profile which defines a transverse profile comprising ridges and troughs. The troughs provide a plurality of longitudinal channels, wherein the ridge-to-trough height increases in the direction of conveyance. Crop material conveyed by the grain pan experiences channels that deepen towards the rear edge of the pan.