Harvester Grain Cleaning System with Early Evacuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural harvesters face challenges in efficiently extracting grain from harvested crop material due to the increasing load of material other than grain (MOG) passing through the threshing and separating system, which complicates the grain cleaning process and increases system bulk and cost.
Innovation Solution
A longitudinally oriented conveyance apparatus beneath the threshing and separating system directs grain and MOG rearward, with a grain cleaning system located beneath, allowing for early grain evacuation and efficient separation by passing clean grain directly to the cleaning system, reducing the burden of MOG and increasing capacity without adding excessive hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a conventional grain cleaning system with multiple sieves and air blasts is used to separate grain from MOG, then the separation effectiveness is improved, but the system bulk and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential cleaning function by using a single sieve instead of multiple sieves, and positions it to receive grain directly from the threshing system. This eliminates unnecessary components while maintaining separation effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning system is segmented into a single dedicated sieve component rather than a complex multi-sieve assembly, reducing overall system complexity while focusing cleaning action on the most critical separation point.
2Productivity
If multiple sieves and air blasts are added to increase grain extraction capacity, then the productivity is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Grain is directed to the cleaning sieve early in the material flow path, before MOG accumulates. This preliminary cleaning action at the source prevents downstream processing complexity while maintaining high extraction capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts only the essential cleaning function by using a single sieve instead of multiple sieves, and positions it to receive grain directly from the threshing system. This eliminates unnecessary components while maintaining separation effectiveness.
3Manufacturing precision
If the cleaning system is positioned to receive all grain and MOG from the threshing system, then the separation thoroughness is improved, but the load on the cleaning system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyance apparatus extracts grain from the mixed grain-MOG flow at an intermediate point before all material reaches the cleaning system. This reduces the total load on the cleaning system while ensuring grain is still effectively separated.
Solution Approach 2:
Grain is directed to the cleaning sieve early in the material flow path, before MOG accumulates. This preliminary cleaning action at the source prevents downstream processing complexity while maintaining high extraction capacity.
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 solution enables more efficient grain extraction and increased capacity within the same equipment size, simplifying the cleaning process and maintaining system reliability and economy.
Implementation Method 1
a cleaning fan or blower is positioned so as to blow air up through the cleaning sieves. This flow of air tends to blow the MOG, which is typically lighter than grain, rearwardly
Implementation Method 2
The collection panel is angled so as to permit the grain to flow, under the influence of gravity, into an auger trough
Data Source
AI summary
An agricultural harvester includes a chassis, a threshing and separating system for separating grain from MOG, and a grain cleaning system for further separating grain from residual MOG. The grain cleaning system has a main grain pan beneath the threshing and separating system with the grain pan having openings in its forward and to selectively receive grain from the forward portion of the threshing and separating system. A component beneath the main grain pan directs flow in parallel to the cleaning system either to a pre-sieve within the cleaning system or to an upper sieve.