Combine Harvester Cleaning Device Material Flow Segmentation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The performance of existing combine harvesters, particularly the cleaning device, is limited in efficiency and capacity, leading to suboptimal grain separation and processing.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a two-part return conveyor system that directs a partial material flow from the separating device to a preparation floor, enhancing the material flow's preparation for the cleaning device, and an additional partial flow is fed directly to the cleaning device, optimizing the distribution and quality of the material flow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If all separating device partial material flow is fed via the return conveyor device to the preparation floor, then the material flow is well prepared and distributed, but the cleaning device capacity is limited and performance is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial flow preparation qualityVSAvoidcleaning device capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The separating device partial material flow is divided into two separate flows: one fed via the return conveyor device to the preparation floor for thorough preparation, and another fed directly to the cleaning device to increase capacity. This segmentation allows the system to simultaneously achieve high preparation quality and increased productivity by processing different portions of material through different pathways.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If material flow is fed through the return conveyor device to preparation floor, then cleaning quality is improved, but processing time is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning qualityVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The material flow is segmented into two pathways: one that undergoes the complete preparation process via the return conveyor device for high-quality cleaning, and another that bypasses the preparation floor for faster processing. This allows the system to handle different material requirements simultaneously, improving overall efficiency while maintaining high cleaning quality where needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Not all separating device partial material flow requires the full preparation process. By feeding a portion directly to the cleaning device without passing through the preparation floor, the system applies partial action - providing just enough preparation for each material portion based on its specific needs, thereby reducing unnecessary processing time while maintaining adequate cleaning quality.

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

This configuration significantly increases the efficiency and capacity of the cleaning device by better preparing the material flow, resulting in improved cleaning quality and capacity.

Implementation Method 1

a return conveyor device, in particular a return floor, for conveying the separating device partial material flow to a preparation floor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConveyor mechanism:

Implementation Method 2

The preparation of the flow of material or the total flow of material into the cleaning device is thereby improved overall

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMaterial distribution:

Implementation Method 3

the efficiency of the cleaning device is increased

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGrain separation:

Data Source

PatentEP3150058B1Combine harvester
Publication Date: 2019.04.10 CLAAS SELBSTFAHRENDE ERNTEMASCHINEN GMBH
  • EP3150058B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3150058B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b

AI summary

The invention relates to a combine harvester with a threshing unit (2) for threshing grain (6) from the harvested crop, wherein a partial crop flow (4) from the threshing unit (2) is fed to a separating device (9) for separating grain (6) from the threshed crop, wherein a partial crop flow (11) from the separating device (9) is fed via a return conveying device (12), in particular a return floor, to a preparation floor (13) and via the preparation floor (13) to the cleaning device (14). It is proposed that a partial crop flow (15) from the separating device (9) is fed to the cleaning device (14) past the preparation floor (13).