Self-Cleaning Rock Sump Actuation for Harvesters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rock sumps in agricultural harvesters require manual and labor-intensive efforts to remove stuck or lodged foreign materials, which is time-consuming and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A self-cleaning rock sump system with a movable cleaning device and actuator, independent of the sump door, that automatically contacts and removes collected materials by moving between the top and bottom ends of the collection chamber, facilitated by a controller for electronic operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a manual door opening method is used to evacuate rocks from the sump, then the structure remains simple, but the cleaning process becomes labor-intensive and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The sump cleaning system performs the cleaning operation automatically without requiring manual intervention. The door actuator opens the door, the cleaning device moves through the collection chamber to dislodge and evacuate lodged materials, and the door automatically closes after cleaning, enabling the system to service itself
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning device is designed to be movable within the collection chamber between a raised position and a lowered position, allowing it to dynamically adapt to different cleaning needs and access various areas of the sump to effectively remove lodged materials
2Quantity of substance
If foreign materials become lodged within the sump, then the collection capacity increases, but the materials cannot be evacuated when the door is opened
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning device performs preliminary action by moving through the collection chamber and dislodging lodged materials before the door is opened for evacuation. This preliminary cleaning action prevents materials from becoming trapped and ensures they can be properly evacuated when the door opens
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning device acts as an intermediary between the lodged materials and the evacuation process. It contacts and dislodges the stuck materials, transforming them from a trapped state to a movable state that allows gravity to facilitate their evacuation through the open door
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
Enables efficient and automated evacuation of rocks and foreign materials from the sump, reducing manual labor and increasing operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an actuator coupled to the cleaning device. The actuator is configured to actuate the cleaning device between the raised and lowered positions
Implementation Method 2
the sump door being movable between an opened position and a closed position... allow the collected foreign materials to fall out of the sump via gravity
Data Source
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AI summary
A self-cleaning sump for an agricultural harvester may include a collection chamber defining a top end and a bottom end. The self-cleaning sump may also include a sump door positioned at the bottom end of the collection chamber, with the sump door being movable between an opened position and a closed position. Additionally, the self-cleaning sump may include a cleaning device movable within the collection chamber between a raised position and a lowered position and an actuator coupled to the cleaning device. The actuator may be configured to actuate the cleaning device between the raised and lowered positions independent of the sump door. When the actuator is activated, the cleaning device may be configured to contact collected material contained within the collection chamber as the cleaning device is moved within the collection chamber between the top and bottom ends of the chamber.