Combine Harvester Cleaning System Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Combine harvesters face high mechanical loads in their cleaning systems due to complex transmission mechanisms, which can lead to increased wear and tear and reduce efficiency in separating seeds from by-products.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning system with a rotatable drive shaft, eccentric device, and a transmission system that includes an annular member and pivotable arms to drive reciprocatable cleaner devices in opposite directions, reducing mechanical loads by allowing for a more compact and balanced drive mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complex transmission mechanism with multiple linkages is used to drive multiple cleaner devices, then the cleaning system can perform effective seed separation, but the mechanical loads on the transmission elements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system is divided into multiple independent cleaner assemblies (first cleaner assembly with grain pan, second cleaner assembly with sieve) that can be driven separately. Each cleaner device has its own drive linkage connected to the annular member, allowing independent operation and load distribution rather than forcing all cleaners through a single complex transmission path
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes counterbalancing by arranging cleaner devices to move in opposite directions simultaneously. When one cleaner moves forward, another moves backward, causing their mechanical loads to counterbalance each other. This reduces the net load on the transmission elements connected to the annular member, addressing the high mechanical load problem
2Device complexity
If one linkage system drives multiple sieves and grain pans simultaneously, then the device structure remains compact, but the mechanical elements are subjected to high mechanical loads
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission system is segmented into multiple independent linkage systems, each connecting the annular member to a specific cleaner device. Instead of one linkage driving multiple cleaners, each cleaner has its own dedicated linkage, distributing the mechanical loads across separate transmission paths while maintaining overall system compactness through the common annular member
Solution Approach 2:
The annular member serves as a universal drive interface that can independently drive multiple different cleaner devices (grain pan, sieve, or combination) through separate linkage connections. This multi-functional design allows the same annular member to adapt to different cleaning configurations without requiring complex inter-linked transmission paths
3Power
If mechanical elements in the transmission are designed to handle high loads, then the system can drive multiple cleaner devices, but the overall construction becomes heavier
Solution Approach 1:
By arranging cleaner devices to reciprocate in opposite directions simultaneously, the system creates counterbalancing forces that reduce the peak load requirements for transmission elements. This allows the use of lighter mechanical components that would not need to be oversized for high-load handling, thereby reducing the overall weight of the cleaning system while maintaining adequate drive 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
This design reduces mechanical loads on the transmission and overall construction, leading to a lighter and more efficient cleaning system that effectively separates seeds from by-products, enhancing the durability and performance of the combine harvester.
Implementation Method 1
an eccentric device that comprises a circular element that is connected at a shaft connection point to the rotatable drive shaft to rotate with the rotatable drive shaft, which shaft connection point is located at a distance from the center of the circular element
Data Source
AI summary
The invention pertains to a combine harvester, comprising a cleaning system for separating for separating harvested seeds from by-products, which comprises a transmission that comprises: - an annular member, that extends around a circular element of an eccentric device and is pivotable around said circular element - a second arm which has a first end that is fixedly connected to the annular member,and a second end which is connected with a reciprocatable cleaner device of a second cleaner assembly, - a first arm which has a first end which is fixedly connected to the annular member, - a first cleaner drive linkage which has a first end which is pivotably connected to the second end of the first arm and a second end which is connected to a reciprocatable cleaner device of a first cleaner assembly, wherein the reciprocatable cleaner device of the second cleaner assembly and the reciprocatable cleaner device of the first cleaner assembly are reciprocatingly drivable by the cleaning system drive assembly in generally opposite directions.