Threshing Concave Position Control via Hydraulic Pressure Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing combine harvesters require manual intervention to maintain the threshing concave in its last position when the drive unit and working hydraulics are switched off, which is inefficient and lacks automatic stabilization.
Innovation Solution
A double-acting hydraulic cylinder with a switching valve that maintains a minimum pressure to hold the threshing concave in its last position, using a constant pressure system and a 2/2-way seat valve to prevent hydraulic fluid from flowing out, ensuring the concave remains fixed without additional energy or aids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the working hydraulics are switched off to save energy, then energy consumption is reduced, but the threshing concave cannot be held in its last position and sags due to gravity
Solution Approach 1:
The switching valve is pre-configured to automatically activate when the hydraulic system pressure drops below a threshold level, maintaining a minimum pressure in the hydraulic cylinder to hold the threshing concave in its last position without requiring continuous energy input from the hydraulic pump
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own hydraulic pressure to automatically trigger the switching valve, which then maintains the position of the threshing concave through self-regulating pressure control without external intervention or additional energy consumption
2Stability of the object's composition
If a switching valve is added to maintain minimum pressure automatically, then position stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The switching valve is integrated into the existing hydraulic system, utilizing hydraulic pressure signals to automatically control the maintenance of minimum pressure in the hydraulic cylinder, eliminating the need for separate mechanical locking mechanisms or additional actuators
Solution Approach 2:
The switching valve serves multiple functions: it detects when the hydraulic system is switched off, activates to maintain minimum pressure, and automatically deactivates when the system is restarted, consolidating these functions into a single component rather than requiring separate systems for each function
3Ease of operation
If manual intervention is required to maintain concave position, then ease of operation is reduced, but device complexity is minimized
Solution Approach 1:
The switching valve automatically detects the operational state of the hydraulic system and independently activates to maintain the threshing concave position without requiring any manual intervention, making the system self-regulating and eliminating the need for operator attention during shutdown
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 automatically maintains the threshing concave's position, preventing sagging and allowing for easy maintenance, with no additional aids required, and provides overload protection by maintaining hydraulic pressure, ensuring the concave remains in its set position even under load conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one hydraulic cylinder can be pressurized with hydraulic pressure on the piston side and the ring side for adjusting a distance of the threshing concave to the threshing drum
Implementation Method 2
The activation of the switching valve thus maintains a minimum pressure, particularly on the ring side, that is greater than the weight of the threshing concave and its components
Implementation Method 3
This prevents the hydraulic fluid from flowing out of the hydraulic cylinder on the side—either the piston or ring side, depending on the installation configuration—towards which the threshing concave opens
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a combine harvester with a threshing device (2) comprising at least one threshing drum (3, 12) and a threshing concave (6) partially surrounding it, which can be positioned at a variable distance from the outer surface (4) of the threshing drum (3, 12) by means of a hydraulically actuated concave adjustment device (23), and with a working hydraulic system for operating the threshing device (2), wherein: - the concave adjustment device (23) can be actuated by means of at least one double-acting hydraulic cylinder (21), and - the at least one hydraulic cylinder (21) can be pressurized on the piston side and on the ring side with a hydraulic pressure (P, P2) for adjusting a distance of the concave (6) to the outer surface (4) of the threshing drum (3, 12), wherein a switching valve (31) can be actuated by switching off the working hydraulic system (41), so that a minimum pressure (P2) remains,to keep at least one hydraulic cylinder (21) in its last set position.