Harvester Cleaning Conveyor with Deflector and Blower
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing combine harvester systems face challenges in efficiently transporting and separating grain from material other than grain (MOG) due to gravity effects on hilly terrain and mixing issues with auger beds, leading to significant losses and reduced cleaning efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates two conveyor belts with deflectors and secondary blowers to launch the grain and MOG mixture into the air for separation before falling onto the cleaning section, utilizing upward-sloping surfaces and air streams to stratify and separate the materials effectively, minimizing losses and improving pre-cleaning efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a reciprocating grain pan is used to transport the mixture, then grain and MOG can be stratified using density differences, but transport efficiency deteriorates on hilly terrain due to gravity effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the reciprocating mechanical grain pan system with a conveyor belt system that uses continuous mechanical motion instead of reciprocating motion. This substitution eliminates the gravity-related transport inefficiencies on hilly terrain while maintaining the stratification function through the conveyor's continuous movement and the integrated blower system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a blower system that uses air streams to assist in transporting and separating the grain-MOG mixture. The pneumatic action of the blower compensates for gravity effects on hilly terrain, maintaining transport efficiency while the conveyor belt preserves the stratification of materials.
2Productivity
If an auger bed system is used to convey the mixture, then transport is relatively unaffected by machine inclination, but grain and MOG become mixed creating difficult-to-clean mixture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the auger bed system with a conveyor belt system. The conveyor belt provides consistent transport unaffected by inclination like the auger, but unlike the rotating augers that mix materials, the conveyor belt's flat surface and continuous motion preserve the stratification of grain and MOG layers.
3Stability of the object's composition
If multiple preparation stages with gaps are used, then separation can be enhanced, but material losses increase due to mixture falling through gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple preparation stages into a single integrated conveyor belt system with a blower. Instead of having separate stages with gaps between them, the conveyor provides continuous coverage, eliminating the gaps through which material could fall and be lost, while the blower enhances separation effectiveness.
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 enhances the separation of grain from MOG, reduces material losses, and improves the cleaning process by ensuring a more efficient transport and pre-cleaning of the mixture, even on hilly terrain, thereby increasing the capacity of the cleaning system.
Implementation Method 1
a deflector having a sloping surface that slopes upward in a downstream direction, a downstream end of the sloping surface being positioned at a higher elevation than a downstream end of the conveyor belt in order to launch the grain and MOG into the air and cause at least partial separation of the MOG and grain prior to falling onto the cleaning section
Implementation Method 2
The fan 15 is separate and configured to work independently from the main blower 10. The fan 15 is mounted upstream of the gaps 7 that are present between each pair of consecutive fins 6, and configured to produce an air stream or blasts of air in the direction of the gaps, thereby blowing lighter MOG material from the mixture towards the rear of the harvester
Data Source
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AI summary
A preparation section of a combine harvester that is configured to receive a mixture of grain and material other than grain (MOG) from a threshing section of the combine harvester. The preparation section includes a conveyor positioned beneath the threshing section that is configured to transport the grain and MOG in a downstream direction toward a cleaning section, and a deflector positioned at a downstream end of a conveyor that is configured to launch the grain and MOG into the air and cause at least partial separation of the MOG and grain prior to falling onto the cleaning section.