Separate Stone Trap Door and Impeller Motion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing stone trap assemblies for harvesters face inefficiencies in evacuation operations due to the impeller forcing crop and foreign objects against the front wall, leading to clogging and reduced accessibility for servicing and inspection.

Innovation Solution

A stone trap assembly design where the door and impeller are separately movable, allowing the door to open before the impeller engages, reducing the risk of clogging and obstruction, and enabling remote or automated operation for improved efficiency and accessibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the impeller is moved to the extended position during evacuation operation, then the foreign objects are forced towards the exit for evacuation, but the crop and foreign objects are forced against the front wall causing clogging and adhesion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveevacuation efficiencyVSAvoidclogging risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The door is opened to the first position before the impeller is moved to the extended position. This preliminary action creates an exit path for the foreign objects before the impeller forces them against the front wall, preventing clogging and adhesion while maintaining evacuation efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses dynamic positioning of both the door and impeller during the evacuation operation. The door can be positioned at different angles (first position partially open, second position fully open) while the impeller moves between retracted and extended positions, allowing flexible control to prevent clogging while maintaining evacuation capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If the door and impeller are moved together during evacuation operation, then the structure is simplified, but the accessibility to harvesting mechanisms is reduced due to obstruction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanism simplicityVSAvoidaccessibility for servicing
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The door and impeller are separated as independently controllable components. The door can be opened to the first or second position while the impeller remains in the retracted position, allowing servicing personnel to access harvesting mechanisms through the stone trap assembly without the impeller blocking the path

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system allows dynamic configuration where the door and impeller can be positioned independently. During servicing operations, the door can be opened while the impeller stays retracted, providing clear access. During evacuation, both can be moved to their operational positions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 enhances the evacuation process by minimizing the risk of clogging and adhering objects, while allowing for easier inspection and servicing of harvester components by maintaining access through the stone trap assembly during operations.

Implementation Method 1

an impeller for forcing the accumulated foreign objects towards the exit, configured to be rotatable around a second rotation axis

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

a door configured to be rotatable around a first rotation axis, substantially transverse to the crop flow path, for movement along a door movement trajectory

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRotational motion:

Data Source

PatentEP3209110B1A stone trap assembly for a harvester
Publication Date: 2020.08.05 CNH IND BELGIUM NV
  • EP3209110B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3209110B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3209110B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

There is provided a stone trap assembly (12) of which the door (50) and the impeller (60) are separately movable during at least a part of the door movement trajectory (51) and/or the impeller movement trajectory (61).