Harvester Discharge Spout Dynamics for Transport Height
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing harvesting machines face restrictions in configuring their discharge spouts for road travel due to height limitations, which restrict the curvature and discharge parabola, affecting crop flow and energy efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The discharge spout is designed with a rotatable curvature that can pivot 90 degrees about a horizontal axis, allowing it to be aligned without height restrictions, and a foldable mechanism for the second section to reduce protrusion during transport, enabling optimized configuration for both operating and transport positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the discharge spout is configured with optimal curvature for crop discharge, then crop flow and energy efficiency are improved, but the height dimension exceeds road travel limits
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge spout is made dynamically configurable through a rotatable section that can change its curvature radius. The curvature radius adjusting mechanism allows the spout to adapt its shape dynamically, enabling it to achieve optimal crop discharge curvature when in use while reducing to a compact configuration for road travel, thus resolving the contradiction between operational efficiency and transport constraints
Solution Approach 2:
The discharge spout is divided into multiple sections including a first section with fixed curvature and a second section with adjustable curvature. This segmentation allows different parts of the spout to serve different functions: the first section provides structural support while the second section can be adjusted to optimize crop flow or reduce height, thereby resolving the contradiction between operational performance and transport requirements
2Productivity
If the discharge spout length is increased to optimize discharge parabola, then crop discharge performance is improved, but the spout cannot be lowered for road travel
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge spout incorporates a rotatable section that can change its orientation and curvature radius dynamically. When optimized for discharge, the spout extends to create the ideal parabola for crop ejection. When road travel is required, the same section can be rotated and compacted to reduce the overall length, resolving the contradiction between discharge optimization and transport constraints
Solution Approach 2:
The discharge spout design utilizes rotational movement to transition between configurations. By rotating the adjustable section around a horizontal axis, the spout can achieve different spatial arrangements - extending outward for optimal discharge parabola or folding inward for compact transport - effectively using dimensional transformation to resolve the length contradiction
Data Source
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Figure 2
AI summary
Harvesting machine (1) and operating method therefor, wherein the harvesting machine comprises an elongated discharge spout (10) which is mounted at one longitudinal end on a top surface of the harvesting machine such that it is movably mounted at one longitudinal end about a vertical axis of rotation (A1) and about a horizontal axis. The discharge spout can be aligned by rotating about the vertical axis of rotation so that its length extends in a front-to-rear direction (FHR) of the harvesting machine. In order to make the discharge spout alignable with fewer restrictions for achieving a transport position, according to the invention, one longitudinal end of the discharge spout is mounted on the top surface of the harvesting machine such that the discharge spout is rotatably mounted about a horizontal axis of rotation (A2) extending in a longitudinal direction of the discharge spout.