Stone Trap Scraping Element for Automatic Emptying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stone traps on combine harvesters face issues with incomplete automatic emptying, leading to hardened deposits under humid conditions, requiring manual removal and ergonomically challenging operator positions.
Innovation Solution
A scraping element, either rigid or resilient, is mounted on the stone trap's side wall and connected to the flap, changing position or shape when the flap is actuated, allowing for automatic detachment of deposits without manual tools, utilizing spring steel for flexibility and strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the front wall is opened to empty the stone trap, then the stone trap can be emptied, but the emptying is incomplete and hardened deposits remain on the walls
Solution Approach 1:
The stone trap system performs self-emptying by utilizing the flap's movement to activate the scraping element, which automatically removes hardened deposits from the walls without requiring manual intervention or additional emptying operations
Solution Approach 2:
The scraping element is positioned and activated in advance during the flap opening sequence, performing the cleaning action before the emptying process completes, ensuring that deposits are removed prior to crop material discharge
2Productivity
If the flap is opened to empty the stone trap, then crops can fall out, but the operator must work in an unergonomic position below the combine harvester
Solution Approach 1:
The system eliminates the need for operator intervention in the emptying process by using the flap's own movement to activate the scraping element, allowing the stone trap to empty automatically from its elevated position without requiring the operator to descend below the combine harvester
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical action of cleaning the stone trap walls is replaced by an automated scraping mechanism that uses the flap's movement to activate the scraping element, eliminating the need for the operator to physically access and clean the stone trap from below
3Strength
If a rigid scraping element is used, then the stripping element can remove deposits, but it requires repeated opening and closing of the door to remove stubborn dirt
Solution Approach 1:
The scraping element's properties are changed by using resilient material instead of rigid material, allowing it to deform and adapt to the stone trap wall surface, thereby removing stubborn deposits in a single operation without requiring repeated door opening and closing
Solution Approach 2:
The scraping element is made from resilient material that can flex and deform to conform to the stone trap wall surface, enabling it to effectively remove hardened deposits through elastic deformation rather than requiring repeated mechanical scraping actions
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
Enables complete and ergonomic emptying of the stone trap without manual intervention, ensuring efficient removal of deposits adhering to the walls.
Implementation Method 1
at least one resilient scraping element is mounted on a side wall inside the stone trap and is connected to the flap, so that the shape of the at least one scraping element can be changed by actuating the flap
Implementation Method 2
the scraping element being designed as a rigid strand which is rotatably mounted at its one outer end about an axis of rotation extending vertically to the side wall and is connected at its opposite end via a coupling element to the flap of the stone trap
Implementation Method 3
to a stone ejection position, in which the Stone trap trough can be emptied, in which the contents of the stone trap trough can fall out of this due to gravity
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The stone trap (3) has a conveyor (1) for conveying a material stream and a processing device (2) for operating the material stream. A stripping element is mounted at a side wall (4) inside the stone trap. The stripping element is connected with a flap (5) such that the position of the stripping element is changeable by the operating of the flap.