Combine Harvester Grain Sensing with Sample Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sensor technologies in combine harvesters struggle to accurately detect grains in material streams containing grains and non-grain components due to interference from impurities like straw particles and chaff, leading to inaccurate calibration and difficulty in distinguishing grains from non-grain material.

Innovation Solution

A sensor arrangement comprising a sampling device to collect a sample, a separation device to separate grains from non-grain constituents, and a sensor system to detect the grains, which improves accuracy by isolating grains for direct sensing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If existing sensor technologies are used to detect grains in material streams containing impurities, then the detection process can be performed, but the accuracy of grain detection deteriorates due to interference from non-grain components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrain detection accuracyVSAvoidinterference from impurities

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The detection system is segmented into three functional modules: sampling device, separation device, and sensor system. This segmentation allows the sample to be isolated from the main material stream, separated to remove impurities, and then detected with high accuracy, resolving the contradiction between performing detection and maintaining accuracy in the presence of impurities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful non-grain components are extracted from the sample through the separation device before detection. This extraction process removes the interference from impurities while retaining the grains for accurate detection, directly addressing the contradiction between detection feasibility and detection accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Measurement precision

If a sampling and separation process is implemented to isolate grains, then grain detection accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrain detection accuracyVSAvoidsensor arrangement structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor arrangement integrates multiple functions into a single compact unit: the sampling device collects samples, the separation device isolates grains from impurities, and the sensor system detects grain properties. This multi-functionality approach improves detection accuracy while minimizing the increase in device complexity by combining operations that would otherwise require separate systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If grains are separated from non-grain constituents before detection, then the ability to distinguish grains from non-grain material is improved, but the time required for detection increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrain distinction capabilityVSAvoiddetection process time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The separation device performs partial separation by focusing only on removing the most significant interfering impurities rather than completely separating all non-grain constituents. This partial action approach maintains grain distinction capability while reducing the time required compared to complete separation processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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

Enhances the accuracy of grain detection by isolating grains from non-grain components, reducing the need for manual calibration and enabling precise adjustment of combine harvester operating parameters.

Implementation Method 1

The separation device may include a centrifugal separator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal separation: Centrifugal Separation

Implementation Method 2

The separation device may include a cyclone separator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCyclone separation: Cyclone Separation

Implementation Method 3

The sensor system may include a camera with image processing configured to detect the grains

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImage processing: Image Processing

Implementation Method 4

or a force sensor configured to detect a weight of the grains separated from the non-grain constituents

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectForce sensing:

Data Source

PatentUS20260000022A1Sensor arrangement for detecting grains in a material stream containing grains and non-grain components in a combine harvester

Publication Date: 2026.01.01 DEERE & CO

AI summary

A sensor arrangement for detecting grains in a material stream containing grains and non-grain components in a combine harvester may include a sampling device configured to collect a sample from the material stream; a separation device configured to separate the sample into grains and non-grain constituents; and a sensor system configured to sense the grains separated from the non-grain constituents.