Maize Harvester Mulching Device Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing harvesting devices fail to effectively mulch corn stubble close to the ground before it is run over by the drive wheels, leading to potential survival of corn borer larvae and fungal infections in subsequent crops, and result in excessive weight and structural changes that compromise the steerability and transportability of the harvesting machine.
Innovation Solution
A harvesting device with first and second mulching devices arranged in front of the drive wheels and third, fourth, and fifth mulching devices in the rear area, designed to process the soil surface within and outside the track width of the drive wheels, allowing for thorough mulching without increasing the weight or structural dimensions of the machine, and enabling adjustment for optimal ground contour adaptation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a single mulching device is arranged on the harvesting attachment to process the entire width, then the mulching coverage is improved, but the weight and structural dimensions increase significantly, compromising steerability and transportability
Solution Approach 1:
The mulching function is divided into multiple separate mulching devices (first, second, third, fourth, and fifth mulching devices) arranged in different locations. The first and second mulching devices are arranged in front of the drive wheels to process corn stubble within the track width, while the third, fourth, and fifth mulching devices are arranged in the rear area to process stubble outside the track width. This segmentation allows thorough mulching coverage without requiring a single large, heavy device that would compromise machine steerability and transportability.
2Reliability
If multiple mulching devices are arranged to cover the entire soil surface, then the mulching thoroughness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mulching system is segmented into five distinct mulching devices positioned at different locations: first and second mulching devices in front of drive wheels for within-track coverage, and third, fourth, and fifth mulching devices in the rear area for outside-track coverage. This segmentation ensures thorough mulching of the entire soil surface while distributing the functional complexity across multiple simple, location-specific devices rather than one complex centralized system.
Solution Approach 2:
Different mulching devices are positioned to address specific local requirements: the first and second mulching devices handle corn stubble within the track width where the harvesting machine operates, while the third, fourth, and fifth mulching devices handle stubble outside the track width in the rear area. Each device is optimized for its specific location, ensuring thorough local mulching without requiring all devices to be present simultaneously at every position.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If corn stubble is not mulched before being run over by drive wheels, then the machine structure remains simple, but corn borer larvae survive and fungal infections occur in subsequent crops
Solution Approach 1:
The first and second mulching devices are positioned in front of the drive wheels to perform preliminary mulching of corn stubble within the track width before the drive wheels run over it. This preliminary action prevents corn borer larvae from surviving in unmulched stubble and avoids fungal infections in subsequent crops, while the simple positioning of devices in front of the wheels minimizes structural complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The device (1) has a header (3) that is arranged on a self-propelled harvester (2) or a self-propelled forage harvester. A detection unit (4) is arranged for detecting and guiding of corn stalks, and a set of drive wheels (7) is arranged on the harvester. A set of shredders (11, 12) is provided in a spaced apart manner, where the shredders are provided in a direction of travel of the harvester before the drive wheels, where a respective working width of the shredders corresponds to a width of the subsequent drive wheels.