Pivotable Distribution Hood for Crop Residue Spreader Plugging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing crop residue spreaders in agricultural harvesters often experience plugging or clogging due to unchopped or long straw, damp straw, or other crop residues like rice, which reduces harvest efficiency and requires frequent operator intervention.

Innovation Solution

A crop residue spreader design featuring a spreader frame with counter-rotating impellers and a distribution hood supported by a common structural member, allowing for pivotable movement and forming a gap for crop residue to exit without binding, along with an oscillating distribution deflector for uniform distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the distribution hood is mounted directly to the spreader frame, then the structure is simplified and easier to manufacture, but crop material can bridge across the impeller housing to plug or block the spreader

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidreliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The distribution hood is separated from the spreader frame by being independently mounted to a common structural member (such as the straw hood). This segmentation creates a gap between the distribution hood and spreader frame, preventing crop material bridging while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through the use of existing structural members.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If the distribution hood is positioned close to the impellers for efficient residue distribution, then the distribution effectiveness is improved, but crop residue can bind or plug in the transition zone

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveproductivityVSAvoidreliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The distribution hood is positioned in a different spatial arrangement by mounting it to the common structural member rather than directly to the spreader frame. This creates a three-dimensional gap space that allows crop residue to clear the transition zone without binding, while the hood remains positioned to effectively distribute residue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Productivity

If the spreader operates continuously without interruption, then harvest efficiency is maximized, but plugging from unchopped or long straw requires frequent operator intervention

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveproductivityVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The design converts the potential harm of unchopped or long straw into a beneficial outcome by creating a gap configuration that allows these materials to clear the transition zone without causing plugs. The oscillating deflector further benefits from these materials by using them to strike and oscillate, enhancing the clearing action.

Inventive Principle:

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

Data Source

PatentEP4566438A1Hinged transition zone on top of residue spreader in combination with integrated chopper

Publication Date: 2025.06.11 CNH IND BELGIUM NV

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AI summary

A crop residue spreader (36) for an agricultural harvester (20) having a spreader frame (42) with counter-rotating impellers (44) for discharging crop residue and a distribution hood (50) mounted in close proximity to the impellers (44) for deflecting crop residue discharged by the impellers (44). A common structural member independently supports both the spreader frame (42) and the distribution hood (50). The distribution hood (50) is movably connected to the common structural member, such that the distribution hood (50) may be moved away from the spreader discharge to provide additional clearance for discharged crop residue to exit the spreader (36).