Harvesting Machine Lubrication System Merging Primary Secondary Housings
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing agricultural machine for harvesting plants faces challenges with lubricant management in its secondary housing, leading to increased maintenance frequency, potential lubricant degradation, and inadequate lubrication due to geometric constraints, which complicates the balance between sufficient lubricant supply and heat management.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a shared lubricant circulation system between the primary and secondary housings, utilizing a secondary distribution network and return network, ensures that the lubricant is constantly circulated and cooled, reducing the need for frequent maintenance and minimizing lubricant degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the secondary housing is sealed and isolated from the primary housing, then the lubrication system is simpler and more reliable, but the lubricant volume is insufficient and heating problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the primary and secondary lubrication systems by creating communication between the two housings through a common bottom zone. The secondary housing is no longer completely sealed but connects to the primary housing's lubricant reservoir, allowing shared lubricant volume and cooling capacity while maintaining separate transmission mechanisms.
2Volume of stationary object
If the secondary housing volume is reduced to fit within geometric constraints, then the machine size is reduced, but the lubricant volume becomes insufficient for adequate lubrication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the lubricant storage solution vertically by utilizing the bottom zone of the primary housing as a shared reservoir. Instead of increasing the horizontal volume of the secondary housing (which would increase machine size), the solution uses the vertical dimension and the common bottom space to provide adequate lubricant volume for both systems.
3Ease of manufacture
If separate lubrication systems are used for primary and secondary housings, then each housing can be optimized independently, but maintenance operations are doubled and downtime increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal lubricant reservoir that serves both the primary and secondary transmission systems. The common bottom zone functions as a shared lubricant supply for both housings, meaning that lubricant addition, replacement, and maintenance operations can be performed once for the entire system rather than separately for each housing.
4Length of stationary object
If the secondary housing is made compact to reduce machine width, then transport regulations are met, but the heat exchange surface area is reduced and heating increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the thermal management resources of both housings by allowing the lubricant in the secondary housing to access the larger primary housing volume. This effectively increases the total heat exchange surface area available to the secondary transmission lubricant without increasing the external dimensions of the machine.
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 simplifies lubricant management, ensures adequate lubrication for both primary and secondary torque transmission means, reduces downtime, and allows for a more compact machine design while maintaining effective lubrication and cooling.
Implementation Method 1
a pump sucking the lubricant contained in the primary housing, a primary distribution network communicating with the primary interior volume and supplied with lubricant by the pump
Implementation Method 2
by circulation of the lubricant in a closed circuit within the primary housing, the torque transmission means contained in the primary housing and extending over the height of the latter
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an agricultural machine (1) comprising a cutting mechanism (13) and first and second conditioning elements (19, 20) driven by a transmission (27) comprising a primary housing (29) comprising a first output (52) connected to the cutting mechanism (13), a second output (56) connected to the first conditioning element (19) and a third output (59), connected to each other by primary transmission means (42), the transmission (27) comprising a secondary housing (61) comprising an input (66) connected to the third output (59) and an output (69) connected to the second conditioning element (20), connected to each other by secondary transmission means (75), the transmission (27) comprising a lubrication device (76) for the primary housing (29) with a pump (77) and a primary distribution network (79) of a lubricant to the primary transmission means (42).According to the invention, the lubrication device (76) includes a secondary distribution network (80) distributing the lubricant from the pump (77) to the secondary transmission means (75), and a return network (81) of the lubricant from the secondary housing (61) to the pump (77).