Transverse Conveyor with Variable Winding Spacing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current transverse conveyors in agricultural harvesting machines face inefficiencies in crop conveyance, particularly at the edge sections where crops can get stuck or conveyed slowly, leading to reduced overall performance.

Innovation Solution

The design features a transverse conveyor with a smaller distance between adjacent windings at the lateral edge sections compared to the central section, incorporating additional spiral-like elements between the helical turns to enhance conveying efficiency, allowing for faster crop transfer and reduced risk of crops falling out.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the distance between adjacent windings is uniform throughout the transverse conveyor, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the conveying effect is reduced at the lateral edge sections where crops can get stuck

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconveying effectVSAvoidstructure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by varying the distance between adjacent windings of the transverse conveyor elements based on the radial position. At the lateral edge sections, the distance is smaller to prevent crops from getting stuck and improve conveying effect, while at the central section the distance is larger. This non-uniform spacing optimizes the conveying performance at different locations of the conveyor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If the distance between adjacent windings is smaller at lateral edge sections, then the conveying effect is improved and crops are conveyed faster, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconveying speedVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the spacing parameter between adjacent windings as a function of radial position. The distance between windings is deliberately made smaller at lateral edge sections and larger at the central section, creating an optimized conveying configuration that balances performance and manufacturability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If additional spiral-like elements are added between helical turns, then the conveying capacity is enhanced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconveying capacityVSAvoidnumber of elements
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies another dimension by introducing spiral-like elements that extend in the axial direction between the helical turns. These additional elements provide extra conveying paths and increase the conveying capacity by utilizing the axial dimension, effectively adding more conveying functionality without significantly complicating the overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

This configuration improves the conveying effect by ensuring crops are quickly directed to the central section, minimizing the risk of crops getting stuck and enhancing the overall conveying capacity of the transverse conveyor.

Implementation Method 1

Two transverse conveying elements (14a, 14b) are connected to the drum-like base body (13). Each of the transverse conveying elements is helical and has at least two windings.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHelical geometry: Helix

Implementation Method 2

In the area of the lateral edge sections of the transverse conveyor, a distance between immediately adjacent windings of the transverse conveyor elements is smaller than in the middle section of the transverse conveyor.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGeometric configuration: Geometry

Data Source

PatentEP3536141B1Transverse conveyor for an agricultural harvester
Publication Date: 2022.04.06 CLAAS SAULGAU GMBH
  • EP3536141B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3536141B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Transverse conveyor (10) of an agricultural harvesting machine, comprising a base body (13) whose axis of rotation extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of a harvesting vehicle carrying the harvesting machine, and comprising at least two helical transverse conveyor elements (14a, 14b) connected to the base body (13), each having at least two turns (15a, 15b), wherein the respective transverse conveyor element (14a, 14b) serves to convey harvested material starting from a respective lateral edge section (16, 18) of the transverse conveyor towards a central section (17) of the transverse conveyor. According to the invention, in the area of ​​the lateral edge sections (16, 18) of the transverse conveyor (10) the distance between immediately adjacent windings (15a, 15c, 15b, 15d) of the transverse conveyor elements (14a, 14c, 14b, 14d) is smaller than in the central section (17) of the transverse conveyor (10).