Threshing Assembly Gap Control Using Tailings Image Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural harvesters face issues with grain/seed damage due to gaps in the threshing assembly being too small, and inefficiency due to gaps being too large, leading to incompletely threshed crop material being discharged onto the ground.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that uses imaging devices to monitor incompletely threshed crop material in the tailings assembly, adjusting the gap between the concave and rotor based on the amount of incompletely threshed material to optimize threshing efficiency and reduce grain/seed damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the gap between the rotor and concave is made small to reduce grain/seed damage, then grain/seed damage is reduced, but incompletely threshed crop material increases and is discharged onto the ground
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the gap size adjustable rather than fixed. The system dynamically changes the gap between the rotor and concave based on operating conditions such as crop type, moisture content, and throughput rate. This allows the threshing assembly to adapt to varying conditions, optimizing the balance between preventing grain damage and ensuring complete threshing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the gap size parameter in response to changing operational parameters. Sensors detect conditions such as crop moisture, type, and flow rate, and the system adjusts the gap dimension accordingly. This parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction by finding the optimal gap size for each specific operating condition.
2Productivity
If the gap between the rotor and concave is made large to increase threshing capacity, then threshing capacity is improved, but grain/seed damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the gap size based on real-time monitoring of crop conditions and threshing performance. When crop conditions allow for larger gaps (e.g., dry, brittle crops), the system increases the gap to maximize throughput. When crops are moist or delicate, the gap is reduced to prevent damage, thus dynamically optimizing both capacity and protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where sensors monitor threshing effectiveness and grain condition, and this information is fed back to the control system. The control system then adjusts the gap size accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that continuously optimizes the balance between threshing capacity and grain protection based on actual performance data.
Data Source
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AI summary
An agricultural harvester includes a threshing assembly configured to thresh crop material received from a feeder of the agricultural harvester. The threshing assembly, in turn, includes a concave and a rotor positioned relative to the concave such that a gap is defined between the concave and the rotor. Furthermore, the agricultural harvester includes an actuator configured to move the concave relative to the rotor to adjust a size of the gap. Additionally, the agricultural harvester includes a tailings assembly configured to receive incompletely threshed crop material that has passed through the concave. Moreover, the agricultural harvester includes an imaging device configured to capture image data depicting the incompletely threshed crop material present within the tailings assembly and a computing system communicatively coupled to the imaging device. As such, the computing system is configured to determine an amount of the incompletely threshed crop material present within the tailings assembly based on the captured image data. In addition, the computing system is configured to control an operation of the actuator based on the determined amount of the incompletely threshed crop material present within the tailings assembly.