Harvester Unloading Control Sequences Conveyor Motor Load
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural harvester unloading systems face issues with overloading of conveyors due to unsynchronized door operation and conveyor startup/shutdown, leading to excessive friction and motor load, which can prevent operation or apply excessive stress on the conveyor system.
Innovation Solution
An unloading control system that sequences the startup and shutdown of the unloading system by controlling the door and conveyor operation, ensuring the conveyors are not overloaded when stopped, using a control circuit that starts the cross conveyor before opening the door and closes it before shutting down the conveyor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the door is opened when the cross conveyor is not operating, then grain pours over the entire width onto the cross conveyor filling the cavity, but this applies significant downward pressure on the cross conveyor and substrate, producing excessive friction that can prevent the endless belt from being operated or apply excessive load to the cross conveyor drive motor
Solution Approach 1:
The control system activates the cross conveyor before opening the door to allow grain flow. This preliminary action ensures the conveyor is already operating and the cavity is being cleared, preventing grain accumulation and excessive downward pressure on the belt and substrate when the door opens.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system monitors the operational state of the cross conveyor and coordinates door opening accordingly. The feedback mechanism ensures the door is only opened when the conveyor is confirmed to be operating, preventing the harmful condition of grain pouring onto a stationary conveyor.
2Loss of time
If the unloading conveyor is not emptied upon shutdown, then the grain remaining on the endless belt or auger of the unloading conveyor causes excessive loads on the unloading conveyor drive motor on startup
Solution Approach 1:
Before shutting down the unloading conveyor, the control system first closes the door to stop grain flow. This preliminary action allows any remaining grain on the conveyor to be cleared or settled before the conveyor stops, preventing excessive load on the drive motor during subsequent startup.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system implements a sequenced shutdown procedure where the door closure and conveyor shutdown occur in specific temporal stages. This periodic action pattern ensures grain flow is stopped before conveyor motion ceases, optimizing both cycle time and motor load management.
3Productivity
If the door extends the entire width of the grain tank and opens fully, then grain pours over the entire width onto the cross conveyor, but if the conveyor is not operating, the entire cavity fills with grain applying excessive downward pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The control system ensures the cross conveyor is activated before the door is opened. This preliminary action guarantees the conveyor is moving and the cavity is being cleared, so when the full-width door opens, grain flows onto an operating conveyor rather than accumulating and creating excessive downward pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system maintains continuous operation of the cross conveyor during grain transfer. The conveyor runs continuously from before door opening through the grain transfer process, ensuring uninterrupted grain flow and preventing cavity filling that would create harmful downward pressure forces.
Data Source
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AI summary
An unloading system for an agricultural harvester includes a grain tank (16); a door (56) at the outlet of the grain tank (16) that is disposed to control the flow of grain out of the grain tank (16); a door actuator (84) coupled to the door (56) that is disposed to open and close the door; a first conveyor (30) disposed to receive grain passing through the door (56); a first conveyor drive motor (80) coupled to the first conveyor (30) to drive the first conveyor (30); and a control circuit (72) coupled to both the door actuator (84) and the first conveyor drive motor (80). The control circuit (72) being configured to close the door (56) prior to shutting off the first conveyor (30) in response to a command to shut down the unloading system.