Open Turning Drum Radial Strips Dust Dissipation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Harvesting machines, such as combine harvesters, experience significant dust accumulation in the cutting unit area, impairing visibility for operators due to excessive dust discharge, and existing solutions require additional power-consuming components like suction fans to mitigate this issue.
Innovation Solution
An open turning drum design with radial strips that allows air to flow radially and axially, creating a directed air volume flow to dissipate overpressure and transport dust away from the cutting unit, functioning as both a crop flow deflector and a suction mechanism without additional components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a conventional turning drum design is used, then the crop flow can be deflected to the separating device, but dust accumulates in the cutting unit area impairing operator visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The turning drum is segmented into multiple radial strips that are spaced apart, creating gaps between them. This segmentation allows air to flow through the turning drum structure itself, not just around it, enabling the drum to act as both a crop deflector and an air movement mechanism that reduces dust accumulation in the cutting unit area
Solution Approach 2:
The turning drum is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it deflects the crop flow toward the separating device while also creating air volume flow to transport dust away from the cutting unit. This eliminates the need for separate suction fans or additional power-consuming components dedicated solely to dust control
2Object-affected harmful factors
If suction fans are added to reduce dust, then dust formation can be mitigated, but additional power-consuming components are required
Solution Approach 1:
The turning drum is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it deflects the crop flow toward the separating device while also creating air volume flow to transport dust away from the cutting unit. This eliminates the need for separate suction fans or additional power-consuming components dedicated solely to dust control
Solution Approach 2:
The turning drum utilizes the existing mechanical energy from its rotation (driven by the threshing element) to generate air movement and dust transport. The radial strips create a pumping effect that moves air and dust particles without requiring additional power input, making the dust control system self-powered by the harvesting machine's existing operation
3Ease of operation
If the turning drum has a closed design, then it can effectively deflect crop flow, but it cannot create radial air volume flow to transport dust
Solution Approach 1:
The turning drum is segmented into multiple radial strips that are spaced apart, creating gaps between them. This segmentation allows air to flow through the turning drum structure itself, not just around it, enabling the drum to act as both a crop deflector and an air movement mechanism that reduces dust accumulation in the cutting unit area
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the turning drum have different functional properties: the radial strips provide solid surfaces for crop deflection, while the gaps between strips provide channels for air and dust flow. This local differentiation of properties allows the single structure to accomplish both crop handling and dust control functions
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 reduces dust formation and eliminates the need for additional power-consuming components, enabling efficient air volume flow direction towards the separating device, thereby improving operator visibility and reducing dust-related issues.
Implementation Method 1
The radial strips 10 extend radially outwardly as viewed from the axis of rotation 6 of the turning drum 7. An open turning drum design with radial strips that allows air to flow radially and axially
Implementation Method 2
creating a directed air volume flow to dissipate overpressure and transport dust away from the cutting unit
Implementation Method 3
creating a directed air volume flow to dissipate overpressure
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The present application relates to a harvesting machine (1), in particular a self-propelled combine harvester for harvesting grain, comprising at least one cutting unit (2) for cutting plants to be harvested by means of the harvesting machine (1), at least one conveying element (3) for conveying the cut plants, at least one elongated threshing element (5) rotatable about a rotational axis (4), by means of which fruits can be detached from the cut plants in such a way that the fruits are then free from plant residues of the cut plants, at least one elongated turning drum (7) rotatable about a rotational axis (6), and at least one separating device (8) for separating detached fruits from plant residues, wherein the cut plants can be conveyed to the threshing element (5) by means of the conveying element (3), wherein a flow of material emanating from the threshing element (5) is conveyed by means of the turning drum (7).The material flow containing both loose fruit and plant residues can be transferred to the downstream separation device (8), wherein at least one main flow direction of the material flow can be changed by means of the reversing drum (7), the reversing drum (7) having a plurality of elongated radial bars (10) extending between opposite end faces (9) of the reversing drum (7), each extending radially outwards from the axis of rotation (6) of the reversing drum (7). In order to provide a harvesting machine in which excessive dust emission in its front area is possible using relatively simple means, it is proposed according to the invention that the reversing drum (7) be designed to be open such that it can be radially permeated by an air volume flow.