Harvester Cleaning System Airflow and Sensor Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The beater/pan configuration in combine harvesters restricts airflow, reducing harvesting efficiency and increasing time and expense due to the weight and curvature of the beater and pan, which also limits the ability to accurately measure agricultural material during operation.
Innovation Solution
The harvester design eliminates the heavy beater and curved pan, enhancing airflow by orienting the cleaning system and conveyor parallel to each other, and incorporates sensors on conveyors to measure material weight and volume, providing real-time data for optimizing the harvesting process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a beater and curved pan configuration is used to separate grain from straw, then separation function is achieved, but airflow is restricted and harvesting efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the beater and curved pan components from the harvesting system, extracting the harmful elements that restricted airflow. This allows the blower to operate without obstruction, improving airflow and harvesting efficiency while achieving grain-straw separation through alternative means.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent repositions the cleaning system and conveyor to be substantially parallel to each other, changing the spatial arrangement from a vertical stacking configuration to a horizontal alignment. This dimensional change eliminates airflow restriction while maintaining separation functionality.
2Productivity
If a heavy beater weighing 135-180 kg is used for separation, then separation capability is achieved, but equipment weight increases and maneuverability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the heavy beater component entirely, removing the 135-180 kg weight burden while maintaining separation capability through the redesigned airflow system and parallel cleaning-conveyor configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical beater-based separation system with an airflow-based separation system using the blower, substituting heavy mechanical components with a lighter pneumatic system that achieves the same separation function.
3Strength
If a curved pan is used to accommodate the beater, then structural support is provided, but airflow path is blocked and cleaning efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the curved pan structure that blocked airflow, eliminating the trade-off between structural support and airflow. The panless design allows unobstructed airflow while the cleaning system and conveyor provide necessary structural functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent repositions the cleaning system and conveyor in a parallel horizontal arrangement, changing from a vertical configuration with the curved pan. This spatial reorganization eliminates airflow blockage while maintaining structural support for the separation process.
4Device complexity
If traditional harvesting operation is performed without real-time measurement, then harvesting process is simple, but grain recovery optimization is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates sensors on the conveyor to detect and measure grain characteristics in real-time during harvesting. This feedback mechanism provides data on grain flow, moisture content, and other parameters, enabling real-time optimization of harvesting settings to maximize grain recovery while maintaining operational simplicity.
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 configuration improves airflow, reduces waste, increases efficiency, and allows for real-time adjustments to enhance grain recovery and revenue, while providing accurate yield predictions and reducing post-harvest calculations.
Implementation Method 1
a blower that blows the agricultural material away from the grain
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A system and method for conveying agricultural material in a harvester (10). One harvester includes a rotor (16) which rotates to separate a plant into a first agricultural material and a second agricultural material. A grate (32) is disposed vertically below the rotor (16) and further separates the first and second agricultural materials from one another. A first conveyor (44) receives the first and second agricultural material directly from a trailing end (34) of the rotor (16) and a trailing end (34) of the grate (32).