Maize Harvester Stubble Puller and Shredder
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current corn harvesting methods fail to effectively destroy the wintering space of the European corn borer during the harvesting process, leading to high harvest losses as the plant stubble remains in the field, providing a habitat for the caterpillars to pupate and reproduce.
Innovation Solution
A row unit for a corn harvester equipped with a device comprising two driven stubble-pulling rollers with cutting edges, positioned on the underside to pull and shred plant stubble during harvesting, effectively destroying the wintering space of the European corn borer by removing and chopping the stubble.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional harvesting methods are used with separate choppers or knives on the stalking rollers, then the plant stalks are chopped up and remain in the field, but the plant stubble remains intact in the ground serving as wintering space for European corn borer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the stubble pulling function and the shredding function into a single integrated device mounted on the row unit. The stubble is pulled out by one roller and immediately shredded by a rotating chopper knife on the same device, eliminating the need for separate operations and ensuring complete destruction of the wintering space in one pass.
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs preliminary action by pulling the stubble out of the ground before shredding it. This sequence ensures that the stubble is completely removed from its protective soil environment and then destroyed, preventing the European corn borer from using it as wintering space.
2Reliability
If a device with two cooperating stubble-pulling rollers and chopper is added to the row unit, then the stubble is effectively pulled out and shredded destroying the wintering space, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The row unit is designed with multi-functionality, where the same device structure performs both stubble pulling and shredding functions. The driven stubble-pulling rollers and the rotating chopper knife work together as an integrated system, allowing the row unit to handle multiple tasks without requiring completely separate machinery.
Solution Approach 2:
The chopper device is nested within the row unit structure, with the rotating chopper knife positioned inside the housing. The stubble is pulled out by the rollers and then fed into the nested chopper mechanism, creating a compact integrated system that minimizes space requirements while maintaining effectiveness.
3Productivity
If the stubble is pulled out and shredded during the harvesting process, then the wintering space is destroyed in a single operation, but additional energy is required to drive the stubble-pulling rollers and chopper
Solution Approach 1:
The device maintains continuity of useful action by operating continuously during the harvesting process. The stubble is pulled out and shredded in one continuous operation without stopping the harvester, ensuring that the wintering space is destroyed throughout the entire harvest rather than requiring separate passes or operations.
Solution Approach 2:
By merging the stubble pulling and shredding functions into a single device that operates simultaneously with the harvesting process, the system eliminates the need for additional separate operations. This integration reduces total energy consumption compared to using separate machines for each function.
4Ease of operation
If stalk choppers or knives are used on the stalking rollers, then the plant stalks are chopped up, but the chopped material and stubble remain in the field providing habitat for caterpillars
Solution Approach 1:
The device extracts the stubble from the ground by pulling it out with the driven rollers before shredding it. This extraction step is crucial because it removes the stubble from its protective soil environment where caterpillars could hide, and then the shredding destroys the structural integrity, making it unsuitable as habitat.
Solution Approach 2:
The device converts the potentially harmful stubble that provides habitat into beneficial shredded material that destroys the wintering space. By shredding the stubble thoroughly, the system transforms it from a protective structure for caterpillars into destroyed organic matter that no longer serves as habitat.
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
The solution allows for the destruction of the European corn borer's wintering space in a single operation, reducing harvest losses by ensuring the stubble is removed and shredded during the harvesting process, thereby preventing further infestation.
Implementation Method 1
two driven stubble-pulling rollers with cutting edges, positioned on the underside to pull and shred plant stubble
Implementation Method 2
two driven stubble-pulling rollers with cutting edges... to pull the stubble out of the earth and shred it
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A row unit (134) for a maize harvester (108) comprises a device (146) arranged on the underside of the row unit (146) for pulling out and crushing plant stubble (148) during a harvesting operation.