Lateral Grain Pan Shaking for Combine Harvester Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural harvesters face inefficiencies in crop material distribution to the cleaning system due to uneven delivery from the threshing and separating assembly, especially on side slopes or due to machine settings, leading to suboptimal utilization of the cleaning system's surface area.
Innovation Solution
A grain pan that shakes in both fore-to-aft and lateral directions, synchronized with cleaning system sieves shaking out of phase, to ensure even distribution of crop material, utilizing a controller to manage the shake profile and compensate for inclinations, thereby improving distribution and reducing machine vibrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the grain pan only shakes in fore-to-aft direction, then the structure is simple, but the crop material distribution to the cleaning system is uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The grain pan shaking mechanism is extended from single fore-to-aft direction to include lateral direction, creating two-dimensional shaking motion. This dimensional expansion allows the grain pan to distribute crop material more uniformly across the cleaning system width, addressing the uneven distribution problem while managing the increased structural complexity through coordinated oscillation control
2Productivity
If the cleaning system processes unevenly distributed crop material, then the structure remains simple, but the cleaning system efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The grain pan performs preliminary distribution action by shaking in both fore-to-aft and lateral directions before material reaches the cleaning system. This pre-distribution ensures uniform crop material placement across the cleaning sieves, maximizing cleaning system efficiency and preventing the formation of uneven material piles that would reduce processing effectiveness
3Manufacturing precision
If the grain pan shakes vigorously to improve distribution, then the distribution improves, but machine vibrations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The grain pan employs periodic oscillation in both fore-to-aft and lateral directions with controlled amplitudes and frequencies. This periodic shaking action gradually distributes crop material uniformly across the cleaning system without requiring continuous vigorous motion, thereby achieving good distribution while limiting excessive vibrations that would harm the machine structure and operator comfort
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 achieves more even crop material distribution earlier in the cleaning process, enhances the efficiency of the cleaning system, and reduces machine vibrations, improving durability and operator comfort.
Implementation Method 1
a grain pan carried by the chassis that receives crop material from the threshing and separating system, the grain pan being configured to shake in a fore-to-aft direction and a lateral direction
Implementation Method 2
a cleaning system carried by the chassis supplied with crop material from the grain pan, the cleaning system including at least one sieve configured to shake in the lateral direction out of phase with the grain pan
Implementation Method 3
The sieves are typically reciprocated back and forth in opposite directions along an arcuate path. This motion has the tendency to separate the grain from the MOG
Implementation Method 4
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 and out the back of the combine
Implementation Method 5
The collection panel is angled so as to permit the grain to flow, under the influence of gravity, into an auger trough positioned along the lowermost edge of the collection panel
Data Source
AI summary
An agricultural harvester includes a chassis; a threshing and separating system carried by the chassis and including at least one threshing rotor mounted in a longitudinal direction of the agricultural harvester; a grain pan carried by the chassis that receives crop material from the threshing and separating system, the grain pan being configured to shake in a fore-to-aft direction and a lateral direction; and a cleaning system carried by the chassis supplied with crop material from the grain pan, the cleaning system including at least one sieve configured to shake in the lateral direction out of phase with the grain pan.