Maize Picker Chopping Drive Speed Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing corn pickers face issues with chopping device speed dependence on intake and picking unit speed, leading to suboptimal chopping results and high torque in the drive train when operating speed is reduced.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a drive means, such as a switching stage or single-motor drive, to independently adjust the chopping device's drive speed, allowing it to maintain or exceed previous speed levels even when intake and picking unit speeds change, and using a torque transmission device to adapt drive speed based on changing operating conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the chopping unit is driven by a common drive shaft with the intake and picking units, then the device complexity is reduced, but the chopping quality deteriorates when operating speed is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The drive system is segmented into two independent parts: the common drive shaft for intake and picking units, and a separate drive mechanism (switching stage) for the chopping unit. This segmentation allows the chopping unit to have independent speed control, resolving the contradiction by enabling quality maintenance without requiring complete drive train complexity
Solution Approach 2:
A switching stage is introduced as an intermediary between the common drive shaft and the chopping unit. This intermediary component enables speed adaptation and decoupling, allowing the chopping unit to maintain optimal speed independently while still being part of the overall drive system
2Use of energy by moving object
If the operating speed is reduced, then the power consumption is decreased, but the drive train experiences high torques
Solution Approach 1:
The switching stage provides dynamic speed adaptation, allowing the chopping unit to maintain optimal rotational speed even when the overall operating speed is reduced. This dynamic adjustment prevents torque spikes in the drive train while still enabling reduced power consumption operation
3Use of energy by moving object
If the operating speed is reduced, then the energy efficiency is improved, but the chopping pattern quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The switching stage enables dynamic speed adjustment that decouples the chopping unit's rotational speed from the overall operating speed. This allows the system to operate at lower speeds for energy efficiency while maintaining the chopping unit's speed at levels that ensure proper chopping pattern quality
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a corn picker with at least two intake and picking units (1) driven via a drive shaft (2) at the same operating speed, each of which is provided with a picking gap (6) and a intake device (4, 5, 15) which draws the plants into the picking gap (6) through which the fruit heads can be separated from the plants, and a chopping device (7) arranged downstream of the respective intake device (4, 5, 15) for chopping the stalks of the plants, wherein the chopping device (7) has a drive means (10, 12, 16, 17) by which the drive speed of the chopping device (7) can be adapted when the operating speed of the intake and picking units (1) changes.