Sieve Assembly Integrating Clean Grain Pan for Harvester
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural harvesters face space constraints and inefficiencies in their crop processing systems due to the separate mounting of sieves and clean grain pans, which limits the processing capacity and requires multiple support structures.
Innovation Solution
A sieve assembly that integrates the sieve and clean crop material sheet as a unitary assembly with lateral and vertical support elements, reducing the number of required support structures and allowing for more efficient use of space, while maintaining structural rigidity and preventing material loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If sieves and clean grain pans are separately mounted with individual support structures, then structural rigidity is provided to each component, but space efficiency is reduced and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sieve and clean grain pan into a single integrated assembly where the clean grain pan is positioned directly beneath the sieve and they share common support structures. This merging eliminates the need for separate support structures for each component, reducing device complexity while maintaining the structural rigidity needed for both elements through their unified mounting system.
2Strength
If separate support structures are used for sieves and clean grain pans, then each component has adequate structural support, but the processing capacity and space utilization are limited
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the sieve and clean grain pan into a single assembly with shared support structures, the patent creates more space within the harvester chassis. This additional space can be utilized to increase the processing capacity, allowing for larger or additional cleaning components to be incorporated into the system without increasing the overall footprint.
3Stability of the object's composition
If multiple separate support structures are used, then structural stability is maintained, but the weight of the crop processing system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated assembly design eliminates redundant support structures that would otherwise be needed for separately mounted components. By sharing common support elements between the sieve and clean grain pan, the patent reduces the total amount of structural material required, thereby decreasing system weight while maintaining adequate structural stability through the unified design.
4Ease of operation
If sieves and clean grain pans are mounted separately, then installation and servicing of each component is independent, but the number of installation steps and potential material loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
While the sieve and clean grain pan are integrated into a single assembly, the patent designs this assembly as a modular unit that can be installed and serviced as one package. This approach reduces the number of installation steps by eliminating the need to separately position and secure multiple components, and reduces potential material loss by minimizing the number of handling operations and connection points during installation and maintenance.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A sieve assembly for use within an agricultural harvester may generally include a sieve, a crop material sheet, and at least one support element. The sieve extends along a length defined between a first sieve end and a second sieve end and processes a flow of harvested crop material. The sieve also defines a plurality of openings through which cleaned crop material of the flow of crop material is directed. The crop material sheet extends along a length defined between a first sheet end and a second sheet end and receives the cleaned crop material directed through the sieve's openings. The crop material sheet then directs the flow of cleaned crop material towards a separate component of the crop processing system. In addition, the support element(s) is directly coupled between the sieve and the crop material sheet and structurally connects the sieve to the crop material sheet.