Slat Insert for Feederhouse Conveyor Noise Attenuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Feederhouse conveyors in agricultural combines are heavy due to U-shaped slats with stripper inserts, making assembly time-consuming and prone to noise and wear when crop mats are thin, as the entire width of the slats is covered with inserts.
Innovation Solution
An endless belt conveyor system with U-shaped slats and wear strips made of thermoplast materials like nylon or polypropylene, where the wear strips are attached separately to the belts with fasteners, leaving most of the slat length free to engage the crop mat, reducing noise and wear while allowing for easier assembly and replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If stripper inserts extend over the entire width of the slats to prevent crushing of grain heads, then the grain head protection is improved, but the conveyor weight increases and assembly time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The stripper insert is divided into two separate parts: a first stripper insert attached to the first slat and a second stripper insert attached to the second slat. These segmented inserts work together to protect grain heads while reducing the weight and assembly complexity compared to a single continuous insert spanning the entire width.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of providing stripper coverage over the entire width of the slats, the invention applies stripper inserts only at specific locations where grain head protection is most critical. The first and second stripper inserts are positioned to contact grain heads at key points along the conveyor path, providing adequate protection while minimizing material usage and weight.
2Reliability
If stripper inserts extend over the entire width of the slats to prevent crushing of grain heads, then the grain head protection is improved, but the assembly time increases due to multiple bolts required
Solution Approach 1:
The stripper insert system is segmented into separate components attached to individual slats. Each slat has its own stripper insert that can be attached and removed independently, allowing for faster assembly and maintenance compared to a single continuous insert requiring multiple bolts across the entire width.
Solution Approach 2:
The stripper inserts are designed with attachment mechanisms that allow for quick connection and disconnection. The dynamic design enables maintenance personnel to remove and replace individual stripper inserts or slats without having to disassemble the entire conveyor system, significantly reducing assembly and maintenance time.
3Reliability
If the conveyor system uses heavy slats with integrated stripper inserts, then the grain head protection is improved, but the ease of assembly and maintenance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor system is divided into modular components: individual slats with attached stripper inserts that can be independently handled, assembled, and maintained. This segmentation allows workers to focus on specific areas requiring maintenance rather than dealing with the entire heavy conveyor system at once.
Solution Approach 2:
The stripper inserts are extracted as separate removable components from the slats, allowing them to be independently maintained or replaced. This extraction principle enables maintenance personnel to remove worn stripper inserts and install new ones without having to replace the entire slat or disassemble the conveyor system.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If wear strips are attached to the entire length of the slats, then the noise and wear attenuation is improved, but the crop handling effectiveness is reduced due to limited slat freedom
Solution Approach 1:
Wear strips are applied only to specific portions of the slats where contact with the feederhouse bottom wall occurs, rather than covering the entire slat length. This localized application provides noise and wear attenuation at critical contact points while leaving the majority of the slat surface free to effectively engage and move the crop mat.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of applying wear protection to the entire slat surface, the invention uses partial coverage with wear strips positioned only where needed for noise and wear reduction. This partial action approach provides sufficient protection against harmful effects while maintaining the functional effectiveness of the slats for crop handling.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A wear strip arrangement for an endless belt conveyor for a feederhouse of an agricultural combine includes a first body that is configured to be attached to a slat that in turn is attached to the endless belt.