Sugarcane Harvester Blower Nozzle Manifold for Residue Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sugarcane harvesters face inefficiencies in separating crop residue from sugarcane billets due to insufficient primary air flow in the cleaning process, leading to incomplete removal of leafy material and debris.

Innovation Solution

A supplemental air system with a blower nozzle manifold is integrated into the sugarcane harvester, providing a supplemental airflow that complements the primary airflow to enhance the separation of crop residue from sugarcane billets by directing pressurized air through a series of nozzles aligned along the manifold axis, ensuring a uniform and turbulent airflow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a primary separator with a fan is used to separate crop residue from sugarcane billets, then some crop residue is removed, but the separation is incomplete due to insufficient air flow

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation completenessVSAvoidcrop residue remaining

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The air flow system is segmented into multiple components: a primary fan for initial separation and a supplemental blower system with multiple nozzles positioned at different locations to provide targeted additional air flow to specific areas of the cleaning chamber, addressing the insufficient air flow problem through systematic division of the cleaning function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention adds a supplemental air flow dimension to the existing primary air flow system. By introducing additional air flow from the blower through strategically positioned nozzles, the system creates multiple air flow paths and zones within the cleaning chamber, enhancing separation capability beyond what the single primary fan could achieve

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Manufacturing precision

If the primary air flow is increased to improve separation, then more crop residue is removed, but the energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of uniformly increasing air flow throughout the entire system, the invention applies partial action by positioning supplemental nozzles only where additional air flow is most needed. This targeted approach provides enhanced separation effectiveness in critical zones while avoiding the excessive energy consumption that would result from uniformly increasing air flow across the entire cleaning chamber

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The air flow enhancement is segmented into specific zones through strategically positioned nozzles, allowing energy to be concentrated where most needed for separation rather than wasted in areas where the primary fan already provides sufficient air flow

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 supplemental air system effectively enhances the separation of crop residue from sugarcane billets, improving the cleaning efficiency and ensuring a more complete removal of leafy material and debris, thereby enhancing the overall harvesting process.

Implementation Method 1

A supplemental air system with a blower nozzle manifold is integrated into the sugarcane harvester, providing a supplemental airflow that complements the primary airflow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressurized air flow: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

directing pressurized air through a series of nozzles aligned along the manifold axis, ensuring a uniform and turbulent airflow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir flow: Convection

Implementation Method 3

directing pressurized air through a series of nozzles aligned along the manifold axis, ensuring a uniform and turbulent airflow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTurbulent airflow: Turbulence

Implementation Method 4

A primary separator includes a cleaning chamber and a fan to induce a primary flow of air within the cleaning chamber, wherein the primary flow of air separates crop residue from the sugarcane billets

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir flow separation: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS20250295070A1Blower nozzle system for supplemental air in a sugarcane harvester

Publication Date: 2025.09.25 DEERE & CO

AI summary

A sugarcane harvester configured to cut sugarcane into a sugarcane mat having crop residue and billets. The sugarcane harvester includes a chopper defining a chopper axis, wherein the chopper is configured to cut the sugarcane mat into a chopped mat including sugarcane billets and crop residue and to discharge the chopped mat along a flow path. The sugarcane harvester includes a primary separator having a cleaning chamber and a fan to induce a primary flow of air within the cleaning chamber, wherein the primary flow of air separates crop residue from the sugarcane billets of the chopped mat. A supplemental air system, located between the chopper and the primary separator, includes a manifold having a constant cross-section along a length of the manifold to provide a manifold air flow to supplement the primary flow of air to separate the crop residue from the sugarcane billets.