Harvester Rotor Control Element for Reducing Grain Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing threshing and separating devices in combine harvesters experience increased grain losses and performance reductions, especially when dealing with crops having a high grain content and few plant components, due to insufficient mass for effective rubbing and separation.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a control element on the separating device area that can be moved into the passage area or axial projection to increase the total mass of the crop, using basket elements with separating openings to enhance separation efficiency and maintain radial distance between the separator and rotor, thereby reducing grain losses and performance losses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If the radial distance between the rotor and the separating device is reduced to increase crop mass for effective rubbing, then grain loss is reduced, but the harvesting performance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control element extends in the axial direction (longitudinal axis) rather than only radially, creating an axial projection that blocks crop flow. This axial dimension allows the control element to increase the effective crop mass in the threshing gap without reducing the radial distance between rotor and separating device, thus maintaining harvesting performance while reducing grain loss
Solution Approach 2:
The control element is designed to be movable between different axial positions. By adjusting its position, the system can dynamically control the degree to which crop flow is blocked, allowing optimization between grain loss reduction and harvesting performance based on operating conditions
2Loss of substance
If the radial distance between the rotor and the separating device is reduced to increase crop mass, then grain loss is reduced, but device performance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control element utilizes the axial dimension to block crop flow, increasing the effective crop mass available for rubbing without reducing the radial working gap. This maintains the mechanical power and performance of the rotor while ensuring sufficient crop mass for effective grain separation
3Loss of substance
If the total mass of crop is increased to improve separation efficiency, then grain loss is reduced, but the radial distance between separator and rotor must be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control element can be moved to different axial positions to dynamically adjust the blocking of crop flow. When sufficient crop mass is needed for effective separation, the control element is positioned to block flow and increase mass in the threshing gap. The radial distance remains unchanged, maintaining the structural configuration
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of adjusting radial distance to control crop mass, the invention uses axial positioning of the control element. The axial projection blocks crop flow in the axial direction, increasing the effective mass available for rubbing without any change in radial dimensions
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
The solution effectively reduces grain losses and maintains harvesting performance by ensuring sufficient crop mass for efficient separation, even in situations with high grain content and few plant components, while maintaining the radial distance between the separator and rotor.
Implementation Method 1
The grains are rubbed out in this threshing gap
Implementation Method 2
a rotor which is mounted so that it can rotate about its longitudinal axis
Implementation Method 3
the at least one control element projecting into the passage area and/or into an axial projection formed along the longitudinal axis of the passage area is movable in order to control a crop flow
Implementation Method 4
the separating device area has at least one basket element which has a plurality of separating openings
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (24) for processing harvested crops, in particular a thresher and/or separator device, comprising a rotor (26) which is rotatably mounted about its longitudinal axis (52), a separator system (28) comprising a separator system region (30), which at least partially surrounds a lower peripheral region (31) of the rotor (26), said peripheral region being located beneath the longitudinal axis (52) when the device (24) is ready for operation, and which lies at a radial distance from the rotor (26). A passage region (54) for the harvested crop is formed between the separation system regions (30) and the lower peripheral region (31) of the rotor (26) and the separation system region (30) extends along the longitudinal axis (52), at least in one portion of the rotor (26). The device also comprises at least one control element (48) arranged on the separation system region (30), said at least one control element (48) being movable into the passage region (54) and/or into an axial projection of the passage region (54), formed along the longitudinal axis (52), in order to control the flow of the harvested crop.