Agricultural Separator Cover Noise Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Agricultural machines, such as harvesters, face challenges in reducing noise levels during crop processing, which can disrupt operations and affect operator comfort and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A separator module with a noise control treatment integrated into the cover of the feederhouse and casing, featuring a curvilinear design and undulating surface, combined with noise barrier or damping materials, helps to reduce noise radiation by optimizing crop flow and noise absorption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional separator modules are used for crop processing, then crop processing functionality is maintained, but noise levels are high and operator comfort is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise levelsVSAvoidoperator comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A cover is introduced as an intermediary component between the feederhouse and casing, incorporating noise control treatments (absorptive and/or reflective materials) to mediate the noise transmission path while allowing crop flow to pass through defined openings

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The cover incorporates localized noise control treatments at specific positions where noise radiation is most problematic, rather than treating the entire separator module uniformly, optimizing noise reduction while maintaining crop processing functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Object-generated harmful factors

If noise control treatments are added to the separator module, then noise radiation is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise radiationVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The noise control treatments are merged with the cover structure, combining noise reduction functionality with the existing protective cover component rather than adding separate noise control devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cover serves multiple functions: it provides structural protection, guides crop flow through defined openings, and incorporates noise control treatments, making a single component perform multiple roles to reduce overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

The solution effectively minimizes noise levels during crop processing, enhancing operator comfort and operational efficiency while maintaining the machine's functionality.

Implementation Method 1

A noise control treatment is coupled to a portion of one of an interior surface or an exterior surface of the cover

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNoise absorption: Acoustic Absorption

Data Source

PatentUS11266072B2Separator module for an agricultural machine

Publication Date: 2022.03.08 DEERE & CO

AI summary

A separator module for an agricultural machine. The separator module includes a feederhouse configured to receive crop from a harvesting platform, a casing enclosing a rotor positioned therein and rotatable relative to the casing for processing crop from the feederhouse, a cover extending between the feederhouse and the casing, and a noise control treatment coupled to the cover.