Integrated Straw Chopper and Chaff Spreader for Uniform Distribution

Solution Overview

Problem

Agricultural harvesters face challenges with separate straw choppers and chaff spreaders that increase cost and weight, and create turbulences leading to non-uniform residue distribution due to separate fan-driven chaff intake.

Innovation Solution

A residue chopping and distribution arrangement featuring two side-by-side straw choppers with parallel rotational axes and integrated chaff spreaders driven by the same shafts, eliminating the need for a separate fan to distribute chaff, ensuring uniform spreading.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a separate fan with its own drive motor is used to draw chaff through a second inlet at the front of the straw chopper housing, then the chaff residues can be fed into the straw chopper, but the cost and weight of the straw chopper arrangement increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechaff distribution capabilityVSAvoidstraw chopper arrangement weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the chaff spreader function with the straw chopper structure, eliminating the need for a separate fan and its drive motor. The chaff spreader is integrated into the straw chopper housing and uses the existing rotor and drive mechanism to achieve both straw chopping and chaff spreading functions through a single unified system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The straw chopper is designed to perform multiple functions: it chops straw and simultaneously spreads chaff residues. The single rotor with chopper knives serves dual purposes by processing both straw entering from the top and chaff entering from the front inlet, making the system multi-functional and eliminating redundant components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Quantity of substance

If a separate fan with its own drive motor is used to draw chaff through a second inlet at the front of the straw chopper housing, then the chaff residues can be fed into the straw chopper, but the cost of the straw chopper arrangement increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechaff distribution capabilityVSAvoidstraw chopper arrangement cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the chaff spreader function with the straw chopper structure, eliminating the need for a separate fan and its drive motor. The chaff spreader is integrated into the straw chopper housing and uses the existing rotor and drive mechanism to achieve both straw chopping and chaff spreading functions through a single unified system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The straw chopper is designed to perform multiple functions: it chops straw and simultaneously spreads chaff residues. The single rotor with chopper knives serves dual purposes by processing both straw entering from the top and chaff entering from the front inlet, making the system multi-functional and eliminating redundant components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Quantity of substance

If a separate fan is used to create air flow to suck the chaff from the cleaning unit into the straw chopper housing, then the chaff can be distributed, but undesired turbulences are created in the straw chopper housing contributing to a non-uniform spreading of the crop residues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechaff distributionVSAvoiduniformity of crop residue spreading

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the harmful air flow generation mechanism (the separate fan) from the system. Instead of using a fan to create turbulence and draw chaff into the housing, the design allows chaff to be distributed directly through the rotor area where it naturally mixes with the straw chopping process, eliminating the source of undesired turbulences.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potential harm of air flow turbulence into a benefit by eliminating the need for a separate fan system. The natural flow dynamics created during straw chopping are utilized to distribute chaff uniformly, turning the chopping process itself into the distribution mechanism rather than requiring a separate turbulent air flow system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 reduces the cost and weight of the system while achieving uniform distribution of crop residues by integrating chaff spreaders with the straw choppers, improving the efficiency of crop residue distribution.

Implementation Method 1

a rotor (66, 92) within the straw chopper housing (54, 80), the rotor having chopper knives (72) distributed around its circumference, the rotor connected to a drive shaft (68, 100) having a rotation axis extending in a transverse direction to the forward direction of the combine harvester

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRotational motion:

Implementation Method 2

the rotor connected to a drive shaft (68, 100) having a rotation axis extending in a transverse direction to the forward direction of the combine harvester and connected to a drive mechanism

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRotational motion:

Data Source

PatentUS9345198B2Residue chopping and distribution arrangement for a combine harvester

Publication Date: 2016.05.24 DEERE & CO

AI summary

A residue chopping and distribution arrangement (48) for a combine harvester (10) comprises a first straw chopper (50) and a second straw chopper (52) arranged side by side and expelling the chopped straw laterally. A first chaff spreader (106) located in front of the first straw chopper (50) is driven by a first drive shaft (68) that also drives a first rotor (66) of the first straw chopper (50). A second chaff spreader (108) located in front of the second straw chopper (52) is driven by a second drive shaft (100) that also drives a second rotor (92) of the second straw chopper (52).