Leaf Screen Cleaner for Combine Harvester

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Solution Overview

Problem

Combine harvesters face issues with crop residue, such as corn leaves, adhering to leaf screens, leading to plugging and hampering the cleaning process, requiring manual intervention or shutting down the machine for removal.

Innovation Solution

A leaf screen cleaner system with bi-directional slotted carriages and a pulley assembly that moves relative to the screen, utilizing the upward and downward motion of the feeder house to scrape off crop material, eliminating the need for operator intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the fan draws air through the chaffer and sieve assembly to remove chaff and lighter particles, then the cleaning efficiency is improved, but crop residue such as leaves is drawn toward the air intakes and adheres to leaf screens causing plugging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoidleaf screen plugging

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful effect of the fan's air draw (which causes leaves to adhere to screens) into a beneficial cleaning mechanism. The same air flow that causes plugging is utilized to drive a carriage system with brushes that actively scrape leaves off the screens, transforming the problem into a solution by using the harmful air flow to power the cleaning action.

Inventive Principle:

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

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning system is designed to be self-sustaining, using the fan's own air flow to power the cleaning mechanism. The air flow moves the carriage along the leaf screens, and the system automatically cleans itself without requiring external power sources or manual intervention, making the harmful fan effect serve the beneficial purpose of screen maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If manual intervention is used to remove crop material from leaf screens, then the plugging problem is resolved, but the harvesting process is interrupted and productivity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescreen functionalityVSAvoidharvesting continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous automated cleaning of the leaf screens during normal harvesting operations. The carriage system continuously moves along the screens, scraping off leaves and preventing plugging in real-time, eliminating the need to stop harvesting for manual cleaning and maintaining continuous productivity while ensuring screen functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-maintenance during operation, automatically removing crop material from the screens without requiring operator intervention or shutdown. This self-cleaning capability ensures both screen reliability and continuous harvesting productivity by handling the cleaning task autonomously during the harvesting process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Extent of automation

If the feeder house is moved upward to activate the pulley assembly, then the carriage moves to scrape crop material from the screen, but the mechanism complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomated screen cleaningVSAvoidpulley assembly mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pulley assembly is designed to serve multiple functions: it powers the carriage cleaning mechanism, utilizes the existing feeder house motion, and integrates with the fan's air flow system. By making the pulley assembly multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for separate dedicated mechanisms, thereby lowering overall system complexity while maintaining automated cleaning capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses dynamic motion of the feeder house (upward and downward movement during operation) to drive the pulley assembly and carriage. Rather than requiring a separate powered drive system, the invention converts the dynamic operational motion of existing components into the cleaning action, simplifying the mechanism by eliminating dedicated motors or power sources for the cleaning function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

Effectively removes crop material from leaf screens during normal operations, preventing plugging and maintaining continuous harvesting without manual intervention.

Implementation Method 1

a pulley assembly coupled to the carriage

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPulley: Pulley

Implementation Method 2

based on pivotal motion of the feeder house, the carriage moves relative to the screen along the plural members

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS9603307B2Leaf screen cleaner

Publication Date: 2017.03.28 AGCO CORP

AI summary

A leaf screen cleaner system to remove crop material such as leaves and stalks from one or more leaf screens of a combine harvester, the system including a slotted carriage movable in opposing directions, a screen having plural members, each of the plural members disposed in a respective slot of the carriage. A pulley assembly is coupled to the carriage and a feeder house is coupled to the pulley assembly. Based on pivotal motion of the feeder house, the carriage moves relative to the screen along the plural members.