Harvester Conditioning Impeller With Reversible Chopping for Straw
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing harvesting machines face challenges in efficiently processing non-grain material like straw due to the need for additional cutting units that must fit under the feeder house, limiting the lowering of the harvesting header and reducing the aggressiveness of threshing and separating devices, leading to increased grain damage.
Innovation Solution
A harvesting machine with a conveyor rotor system featuring drivers with dual edges for both conditioning and cutting, allowing for selective crop conditioning or chopping, and a movable counterpart blade mechanism for enhanced flexibility in processing crop material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If additional cutting units are extended over the entire width of the harvesting header to process non-grain material, then the processing capability of straw is improved, but the height of the additional cutting unit must be small enough to fit underneath the feeder house, limiting the lowering of the harvesting header
Solution Approach 1:
The additional cutting unit is divided into multiple independently adjustable segments that can be positioned at different heights and angles. This segmentation allows the cutting unit to process non-grain material effectively while accommodating the height constraint imposed by the feeder house, as each segment can be independently positioned to fit within the available space.
Solution Approach 2:
The additional cutting unit is designed with adjustable and movable components that can dynamically adapt their position and configuration. This dynamic capability enables the cutting unit to lower its height when needed to fit underneath the feeder house while maintaining full processing capability, resolving the contradiction between processing capability and height limitation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the harvesting header is lowered to accommodate additional cutting units, then the processing of lodged crops is improved, but the aggressiveness of threshing and separating devices is reduced, leading to increased grain damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamically adjustable components that can adapt their position and configuration based on crop conditions. When handling lodged crops, the cutting unit can be positioned lower to effectively process the crops, while the threshing and separating devices can independently adjust their aggressiveness to maintain grain quality, thus resolving the contradiction between handling capability and grain damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows for independent adjustment of multiple parameters including cutting unit height, threshing intensity, and separating device aggressiveness. This parameter flexibility enables optimal configuration for specific crop conditions, allowing the header to be lowered for lodged crops while maintaining appropriate threshing aggressiveness to minimize grain damage.
3Ease of manufacture
If the additional cutting unit is positioned underneath the feeder house, then the structural constraints are satisfied, but very little non-grain material passes through the combine harvester, reducing the effectiveness of threshing and separating devices
Solution Approach 1:
The additional cutting unit is segmented into multiple independent sections that can be distributed across the harvesting header width. This segmentation allows the system to satisfy structural constraints by positioning segments underneath the feeder house while simultaneously processing substantial amounts of non-grain material through coordinated operation of multiple segments, thereby maintaining productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The additional cutting unit is designed with multi-functional capabilities, allowing it to process both grain and non-grain material effectively. By positioning the cutting unit underneath the feeder house and equipping it with appropriate cutting and processing mechanisms, the system can handle substantial amounts of non-grain material while satisfying structural constraints, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and productivity.
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
Enables efficient processing of crop material by reducing grain damage and improving the design flexibility of the harvesting header, allowing for better handling of lodged crops and optimizing the distribution of non-grain material.
Implementation Method 1
The drivers abrading the crop material against the discharge hood to crimp and scrape the crop material to condition the crop material
Implementation Method 2
The drivers abrading the crop material against the discharge hood to crimp and scrape the crop material
Data Source
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AI summary
A harvesting machine includes a frame structure. A cutter is coupled to the frame structure for cutting standing crop material. A conveyor rotor is rotatable about a rotor axis relative to the frame structure, and includes a plurality of drivers mounted to an exterior surface of the conveyor rotor. A discharge hood is mounted to the frame structure above the conveyor rotor. The conveyor rotor is configured for rotation about the rotor axis in a first rotational direction for moving crop material over the conveyor rotor, between the discharge hood and the conveyor rotor, for conditioning the crop material. The conveyor rotor is configured for rotation about the rotor axis in a second rotational direction, opposite the first rotational direction, for moving the crop material under the conveyor rotor for cutting the crop material.