Three-Segment Deflector for Crop Speed Maintenance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional agricultural harvesters experience crop blockages and malfunctions due to abrupt crop redirection, particularly when using two-segment deflectors, which result in significant speed loss and inefficiency, especially when directing crops into containers positioned beneath the spout.

Innovation Solution

A three-segment deflector system with pivotable segments and a link arrangement connected to the spout, allowing for smoother crop redirection and improved control, reducing speed loss and potential blockages by distributing the redirection workload among more segments, and incorporating rigid rods and a damping system for stability and vibration reduction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a two-segment deflector is used to redirect crop into a container beneath the spout, then the crop can be redirected into the container, but the crop speed is severely reduced causing blockages

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to direct crop into container beneath spoutVSAvoidcrop speed leaving spout

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The deflector is divided into three segments instead of two, allowing the total redirection angle to be distributed across more individual deflection points. This reduces the abruptness of each individual deflection, maintaining crop speed while achieving the necessary redirection into containers beneath the spout.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The deflector segments are made pivotable with coordinated movement through a link arrangement, allowing dynamic adjustment of the deflection angles. This enables smooth, progressive redirection of the crop flow while maintaining speed, adapting to different container positions beneath the spout.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the crop is redirected through 90 degrees to direct harvested crop into a container directly beneath the spout, then the crop can reach the container, but the abrupt redirection causes severe slowing and blockages

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to redirect crop 90 degrees into container beneath spoutVSAvoidharvester efficiency due to blockages

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The 90-degree redirection is achieved through three sequential deflection segments rather than one or two abrupt deflections. Each segment contributes to the total redirection angle, creating a progressive curve that maintains crop momentum and prevents blockages, thereby preserving harvester productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The three-segment deflector creates a curved redirection path for the crop rather than sharp angular deflections. This curved trajectory reduces impact forces and maintains crop speed through the 90-degree turn, preventing blockages and maintaining operational efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Device complexity

If conventional two-segment deflectors are used, then the structure is simple, but the abrupt redirection causes severe slowing of crop speed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeflector structure simplicityVSAvoidcrop speed through deflector

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

Adding a third segment to the deflector structure distributes the redirection workload, reducing the deflection angle at each segment. This maintains crop speed while only moderately increasing structural complexity compared to two-segment designs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The three deflector segments are combined with a link arrangement that coordinates their movement, creating an integrated system that achieves smooth crop redirection. The merging of segments and linkage mechanism provides a balanced solution between structural complexity and crop speed maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3735815B1Apparatus for directing a harvested crop output from an agricultural harvester

Publication Date: 2023.07.12 CNH IND BELGIUM NV

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AI summary

Aspects of the present invention relate to apparatus for directing a harvested crop output from an agricultural harvester (10). The apparatus comprises a spout (22), a deflector (30), and a link arrangement (60) comprising at least three links. The deflector (30) comprises three segments (32, 34, 36). The second end (28) of the spout (22) and the deflector (30) are connected by a first segment (32) of the three segments (32, 34, 36), a second segment (34) of the three segments (32, 34, 36) and the spout (22) are connected by the first segment (32), and a third segment (36) of the three segments (32, 34, 36) and the spout (22) are connected by the second and first segments (34, 32). The first segment (32) is pivotable relative to the spout (22) about a first pivot (54), the second segment (34) is pivotable relative to the first segment (32) about a second pivot (56), and the third segment (36) is pivotable relative to the second segment (34) about a third pivot (58). Each link is arranged to pivot a segment about its respective pivot and at least one of the links is an actuator (62).