Pre-threshing System for Grain Recovery in Combine Harvesters
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current combine harvesters suffer from inefficiencies in grain recovery due to the unpredictable nature of cut crops and transitional gaps in the threshing and separating processes, resulting in a significant amount of grain not being removed during the threshing operation.
Innovation Solution
A pre-threshing system comprising a feed accelerator and a pre-threshing device that moves cut crops across a path, interacting to collect threshed grain before it reaches the main thresher, thereby enhancing grain recovery and improving the efficiency of the threshing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If a conventional thresher is used to thresh cut crop, then the main threshing function is performed, but a significant amount of grain (5-15% of total) is not recovered due to inefficiencies and unpredictable crop nature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by introducing a pre-threshing device that performs initial threshing of cut crop before it enters the main thresher. This pre-threshing step removes a substantial portion of grain (5-15% of total) in advance, reducing the load on the main thresher and improving overall grain recovery efficiency. The pre-threshing device processes crop material beforehand to prepare it for more effective main threshing operation.
2Productivity
If too much cut crop is fed to the thresher, then the processing capacity is maintained, but grain removal becomes incomplete and grain is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the threshing process into two distinct stages: pre-threshing and main threshing. The pre-threshing device handles initial grain removal, while the main thresher completes the process. This segmentation allows each stage to operate more efficiently with appropriate crop loads, preventing grain waste that occurs when excessive crop is fed to a single thresher stage.
3Device complexity
If transitional gaps exist between different stages of crop flow and grain removal, then the existing thresher structure is maintained, but inefficiencies occur where grain removal is incomplete
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary pre-threshing device that bridges the gap between crop feeding and main threshing operations. This intermediary component captures grain that would otherwise be lost in the transitional phases, improving overall grain recovery without requiring complete redesign of the main thresher structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A harvesting machine including a cutting head configured to provide cut crop for threshing. The harvesting machine includes a conveyer disposed adjacent to the cutting head and configured to move the cut crop to be threshed along a path. A thresher is configured to thresh the cut crop to provide threshed grain from the cut crop. A separator is disposed adjacently to the thresher and is configured to separate debris from the threshed grain. A feed accelerator is disposed between the conveyor and the thresher, wherein the feed accelerator is configured to advance the cut crop along the path from the conveyor to the thresher. A pre-threshing device is disposed adjacently to the feed accelerator, wherein the feed accelerator interacts with the pre-threshing device to provide threshed grain, and the pre-threshing device is configured to collect the threshed grain before the remaining cut crop is threshed at the thresher.