Serpentine Seam Rotor for Agricultural Combine Threshing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotor constructions for agricultural combines require additional manufacturing and inspection steps due to the need to grind and flush weld seams for mounting threshing elements, which can weaken the seam and lead to irregularities affecting threshing performance.
Innovation Solution
A rotor construction where the sheet forming into a tube has interlocking edges with a serpentine seam that avoids coinciding with threshing element mounts, allowing for direct welding without grinding or inspection, and maintaining a uniform surface for precise positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If weld seams are ground flush to ensure proper positioning of threshing element mounts, then mounting precision is improved, but manufacturing complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The serpentine seam pattern is designed in advance during the tube forming process, so that the seam automatically positions itself to avoid interference with threshing element mounts. This preliminary design eliminates the need for subsequent grinding operations to achieve proper mount positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of grinding the seam flush to achieve proper positioning, the invention inverts the approach by designing the seam pattern to naturally avoid the mount positions. The serpentine pattern is configured so that mounts can be attached directly without requiring the seam to be ground down.
2Manufacturing precision
If weld seams are ground flush to achieve desired surface level, then surface uniformity is improved, but manufacturing time and inspection steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The serpentine seam pattern is pre-configured during tube formation to maintain surface uniformity without requiring subsequent grinding. The pattern is designed so that the seam naturally follows a path that preserves the outer surface integrity where mounts will be attached.
3Manufacturing precision
If weld seams are ground flush to ensure proper mount positioning, then threshing performance is improved, but seam strength decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The serpentine seam pattern is designed in advance to route around mount attachment points, ensuring proper positioning without requiring material removal. This preserves the full cross-section of the weld seam, maintaining its structural strength and resistance to damage from rocks and other foreign objects.
4Ease of manufacture
If traditional straight or helical seams are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but threshing element positioning accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a serpentine (sinuous/curved) seam pattern instead of straight or simple helical lines. This curved path allows the seam to weave around the optimal positions for threshing element mounts, achieving both manufacturing feasibility and precise positioning accuracy.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
A rotor (20) for a threshing system of an agricultural combine (24) and method for making the same, including a main body segment (28) made from a sheet (54) formed into a tube and including specially shaped interlocking edges (56, 58) forming a serpentine joint routed locations where threshing element mounts (50) attach to the rotor (20).