Harvester Bottom Floor Linkage for Clog Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional crop feeding systems in harvesters often clog due to high crop material volumes, leading to reduced efficiency and uneven bale formation, as existing solutions either restrict movement or allow excessive variation in the bottom floor assembly, causing issues with clogging and cutting consistency.
Innovation Solution
A harvester assembly with a bottom floor assembly that features independent movement between the front and rear sections, utilizing hydraulic cylinders to adjust the depth of the crop collection channel, allowing for variable motion to accommodate high crop volumes without clogging, while maintaining proper bale formation through synchronized movement of hydraulic cylinders and pivot points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the bottom floor is allowed to move to increase crop material volume capacity, then clogging is prevented, but the rear portion remains static causing clogs at the narrow outlet
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom floor assembly is divided into multiple sections (front, middle, rear) that can move independently. The front section moves downward first to create initial volume, followed by the middle and rear sections, ensuring the entire crop feeding channel expands uniformly to prevent clogs at all locations including the narrow outlet.
Solution Approach 2:
The bottom floor transitions from a static structure to a dynamic one with multiple movable sections. Each section is equipped with its own linkage mechanism that responds to crop material pressure, allowing the floor to adapt its shape and volume in real-time to match the incoming crop flow and maintain consistent throughput without clogging.
2Productivity
If both front and rear of bottom floor move to accommodate high crop volumes, then clogging is reduced, but large variations in crop material volume enter the bale forming chamber causing uneven bale formation
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom floor sections are designed with progressive movement capability where each section moves independently based on local crop pressure. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to accommodate high-volume inputs while the controlled, staged movement of each section prevents excessive volume variation from reaching the bale forming chamber, maintaining bale uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The linkage mechanisms incorporate mechanical limits and progressive engagement that modulate the movement amplitude of each bottom floor section. This allows the system to change its response parameter based on crop pressure levels - moving more when needed to prevent clogs, but limiting movement to prevent excessive volume variation that would compromise bale formation quality.
3Productivity
If the bottom floor moves significantly to prevent clogs, then crop material volume capacity increases, but cutting consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the bottom floor into multiple independently controlled sections, the system can provide localized movement where needed while maintaining stability in other areas. This ensures that crop material remains properly positioned relative to the cutting knives, preserving cutting consistency even when accommodating high-volume crop flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The linkage mechanisms are designed with controlled movement ranges that adjust the operational parameters of the bottom floor sections. This allows the system to optimize the balance between volume capacity and cutting consistency by limiting excessive movement that would disrupt knife-crop contact while permitting sufficient movement to prevent clogs.
4Reliability
If a spring provides tension for front end movement, then limited movement is achieved, but the system cannot accommodate high crop material volumes effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The single spring tension system is replaced with multiple linkage mechanisms distributed across different bottom floor sections. Each linkage can independently respond to local crop pressure, providing both controlled movement and high volume accommodation capability simultaneously through coordinated action of multiple segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical spring tension system is replaced with hydraulic or pneumatic actuators that provide controlled force application. These actuators can dynamically adjust their output force to match crop pressure levels, enabling both precise movement control and the ability to accommodate high-volume crop flows that exceed spring capability.
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
The system effectively prevents clogging and ensures proper bale formation by allowing for variable movement of the bottom floor assembly, accommodating increased crop volumes and maintaining efficient operation, while allowing for manual access and clearing of clogged material.
Implementation Method 1
a first pair of hydraulic cylinders, set to a first predetermined amount of compression, provides a variable range of motion, thereby moving a front portion of the bottom floor assembly along the length of the first pair of slotted guides
Implementation Method 2
a second pair of hydraulic cylinders, set to a second predetermined amount of compression, provides a variable range of motion, thereby pivoting the bottom floor assembly at a pivot point positioned at the front of the bottom floor assembly
Data Source
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AI summary
A harvester assembly is described that comprises a feeder assembly (220), a bottom floor assembly (230), and a crop collection channel positioned therebetween. The front and the rear portion of the bottom floor assembly are capable of independent, variable movement in order to facilitate the passage of crop material through the crop collection channel with a reduced risk of clogging or plugging of the channel. The harvester assembly can be integrated into an agricultural harvester such as a baler or combine harvester.