Stalk Conditioner Header for Corn Harvesting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for clearing stripped corn stalks after harvesting are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and costly, requiring additional field work to decompose and remove obstacles for subsequent plantings.

Innovation Solution

A combine harvester header equipped with a stomping shoe and a stalk splitter, where the stomping shoe features guiding structures to flatten stalks and the stalk splitter, with a vertically oriented disk blade, splits stalks along their longitudinal axis, facilitating efficient breakdown and alignment for subsequent operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional tillage or no-till methods are used to clear stripped corn stalks, then the field is cleared for subsequent planting, but the process is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and requires extensive power

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefield clearing efficiencyVSAvoidtime for second field work

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the stalk conditioning function with the harvest operation by integrating the stomping shoe and stalk splitter directly onto the corn header. This merging allows stalk breakdown to occur during the single harvesting pass rather than requiring a separate subsequent field operation, thereby eliminating the time loss associated with second field work while maintaining effective field clearing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The stalk splitter and stomping shoe perform preliminary breakdown of corn stalks immediately after harvest during the same operational pass. By conditioning the stalks in advance rather than waiting for a separate field operation, the system prepares the field for subsequent planting without requiring additional time-consuming passes over the field.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If motorized stalk cutters or large scale mowers are employed to clear stalks, then stripped stalks are effectively cleared, but extensive power is required increasing operational costs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestalk clearing effectivenessVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The stalk conditioning system utilizes the forward motion and harvesting operation itself to power the stalk breakdown process. The stomping shoe and stalk splitter are positioned to receive stalks naturally during harvest, using the harvest operation's own kinetic energy and mechanical action to condition the stalks without requiring separate motorized cutting equipment or additional power sources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the stalk conditioning function from separate motorized equipment and integrates it directly into the harvest header. This extraction eliminates the need for additional motorized cutters or mowers that would consume extensive power, while maintaining effective stalk clearing through the integrated mechanical action of the stomping shoe and stalk splitter.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If stripped stalks are left standing in the field, then erosion control and natural fertilizer benefits are maintained, but they interfere with subsequent crop planting

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveerosion control and fertilizer benefitsVSAvoidsubsequent planting accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The stomping shoe and stalk splitter apply localized conditioning action to individual stalks as they pass through the header during harvest. This local processing flattens and splits stalks in specific areas where they would otherwise interfere with planting, while leaving other portions of the field undisturbed to maintain erosion control and fertilizer benefits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The stalk splitter divides stalks into segments through splitting action, creating smaller pieces that are less obstructive to subsequent planting operations. This segmentation of stalks into manageable segments maintains the beneficial presence of stalk material in the field while eliminating the interference problem caused by intact standing stalks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10159189B2Stalk conditioner for a header of an agricultural combine

Publication Date: 2018.12.25 BLUE LEAF I P INC

AI summary

A header for a combine harvester, the header including a frame mountable to a forward end of the combine harvester, at least one row unit mounted to the frame to receive and process stalks of corn, a stomping shoe mounted to the frame behind the row unit to flatten stalks of corn, and a stalk splitter mounted to frame behind the row unit to split stalks of corn. The face of the stomping shoe is provided with a plurality of structures to guide each stalk of corn along a predefined path on the face while the stalks of corn are flattened. The stalk splitter includes a disk blade biased against the ground for splitting stalks of corn after they are processed by row units of the corn header.