Removable Trough Bottoms for Harvester Cleaning Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning systems in agricultural harvesters face difficulties in easily cleaning the troughs due to their tight spaces and complex designs, requiring significant time and effort to access and clean the components.
Innovation Solution
A removable pull-out trough bottom with a deformable seal and serrated edges is introduced, allowing for easy removal and self-cleaning of the trough while preventing the exit and entry of loose particles through a curved slot, and channels on the inner side wall help guide the pull-out for efficient cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the trough is bolted or hinged to the combine harvester for secure attachment, then the trough remains firmly fixed during operation, but the trough becomes difficult to remove and clean requiring significant time and effort
Solution Approach 1:
The trough is divided into a stationary portion (trough body with curved slot) and a removable portion (pull-out bottom with seal). This segmentation allows the trough to remain securely attached during operation while enabling easy removal of the bottom portion for cleaning without removing the entire trough assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The trough bottom transitions from a fixed state during operation to a removable state during cleaning. The pull-out bottom can be easily extracted through the curved slot when cleaning is needed, providing dynamic adaptability between operational security and cleaning accessibility.
2Reliability
If the trough design is complex with multiple parts for secure attachment, then the trough remains firmly fixed during operation, but the cleaning process becomes more difficult due to tight spaces and many parts
Solution Approach 1:
The trough is segmented into a stationary body and a removable bottom portion. This reduces the complexity of the fixed structure while enabling easy access to the cleaning area, as only the bottom portion needs to be removed rather than disassembling multiple attachment components.
Solution Approach 2:
The removable bottom portion is extracted as a separate component that can be easily removed through the curved slot. This extraction principle simplifies the cleaning process by providing direct access to the trough interior without requiring disassembly of the complex attachment mechanism.
3Ease of operation
If the curved slot is opened for pull-out removal, then the trough bottom can be easily removed for cleaning, but loose particles may exit or enter through the open slot
Solution Approach 1:
A deformable seal (flexible membrane) is used to cover the curved slot opening. The seal flexes to accommodate the pull-out bottom during removal while maintaining a closed position to prevent particle leakage when the trough is in normal operation or during cleaning activities.
Solution Approach 2:
The deformable seal acts as an intermediary between the curved slot opening and the external environment. It allows the pull-out bottom to pass through during removal while blocking particle passage during normal operation, mediating between the need for easy removal and particle containment.
4Productivity
If the cleaning system operates continuously, then grain processing efficiency is maintained, but the troughs accumulate dirt and require periodic cleaning that stops operation
Solution Approach 1:
The removable bottom portion is designed to be quickly extracted for cleaning before significant dirt accumulation occurs. This preliminary maintenance approach allows for rapid cleaning intervals that minimize operational disruption while preventing buildup that would require more extensive cleaning later.
Solution Approach 2:
The trough cleaning system transitions from a static fixed design requiring lengthy disassembly to a dynamic removable design enabling rapid cleaning. The pull-out bottom can be quickly removed and reinstalled, reducing maintenance time and allowing the cleaning system to return to continuous operation faster.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A cleaning system (26) for use in an agricultural harvester (10) includes a sieve (46, 48, 50) and an auger arrangement (70, 120) positioned below the sieve (46, 48, 50). The auger arrangement (70, 120) includes an auger (56, 64), an end plate (78, 122) carrying the auger (56, 64) and having a curved slot (80, 124) positioned radially outside of the auger (56, 64), a deformable seal (88, 126) associated with the curved slot (80, 124), a trough (62, 130) having an inner side wall (94, 106), and an elongate removable pull out (82, 128) which is slidable through the curved slot (80, 124) adjacent to the inner side wall (94, 106). The removable pull out (82, 128) and the deformable seal (88, 126) together being configured to prevent exit and entry of loose particles through the curved slot (80, 124).