Variable Clearance Auger for Crop Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing loading arrangements in agricultural harvesters face challenges in efficiently transporting processed crops from the feeder to the on-board storage tank, particularly in maintaining pace with high-capacity and high-speed harvesting operations.
Innovation Solution
The loading arrangement features an auger with a larger clearance between the housing and auger flighting in the lower section compared to the upper section, allowing for improved intake and transport of processed crops, achieved by varying the inner diameter and outer diameter of the housing and flighting, or by adjusting the pitch, which enhances throughput and reduces flow resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the clearance between the housing and auger flighting is reduced to increase transport capacity, then the crop flow rate increases, but the risk of crop obstruction and flow resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different clearance values at different locations along the auger. The lower section has a first clearance value optimized for crop intake and initial transport, while the upper section has a second clearance value optimized for maintaining flow continuity and reducing obstruction. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by allowing each section to be optimized for its specific functional requirements rather than using a uniform clearance throughout.
2Speed
If the auger operates at high speed to match harvesting capacity, then the loading speed increases, but the crop intake efficiency decreases due to insufficient time for crop to enter the auger
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the auger system by implementing variable clearance along its length. The larger clearance in the lower section creates a more open intake area that can accommodate high-speed crop flow while still allowing efficient crop entry. This parameter modification enables the auger to maintain both high operating speed and high intake efficiency simultaneously.
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 enhances the transport capacity and efficiency of the loading process, ensuring a continuous and accurate loading of crops into the storage tank, reducing the risk of crop obstruction and enabling more precise determination of crop quantity.
Implementation Method 1
an auger comprising a lower section with an inlet for receiving the flow of processed crop and an upper section with an outlet, the auger comprising a tubular housing and an auger flighting mounted inside the tubular housing for, during use, transporting the flow of processed crop from the lower section to the upper section
Data Source
AI summary
An agricultural harvester is described, the harvester comprising a processor for receiving a flow of harvested crop and processing the harvested crop, an on-board tank for storing the processed crop, and a loading arrangement for transporting the flow of processed crop from the feeder to the on-board tank. The loading arrangement comprises an auger, the auger comprising a lower section with an inlet for receiving the flow of processed crop and an upper section with an outlet. The auger further comprises a tubular housing and an auger fighting mounted inside the tubular housing for, during use, transporting the flow of processed crop from the lower section to the upper section and outputting the processed crop via the outlet of the upper section. A clearance between the housing and the auger fighting is larger in the lower section of the auger compared to the upper section.