Windrow Door Deflector Panel for Crop Residue Direction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural combines face challenges in accurately directing crop residue onto a windrow chute, leading to undesirable windrow formation due to high velocity discharge when the windrow door is open, causing residue to bypass the chute.
Innovation Solution
A windrow door assembly with a deflector panel that is rotatably coupled to the door panel, altering the flow direction of crop residue when the door is open, ensuring it is directed onto the windrow chute, which reduces velocity and facilitates a cohesive windrow formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the windrow door is moved to the open position to allow crop residue discharge onto the field, then the rear opening size is increased for windrow formation, but the crop residue fails to contact the windrow chute and is discharged at very high velocity resulting in undesirable windrow formation
Solution Approach 1:
The windrow door assembly is segmented into multiple functional components: a door panel for controlling opening/closing, and a separate deflector panel for directing residue flow. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each component's function - the door panel manages opening size while the deflector panel ensures accurate residue direction onto the chute.
Solution Approach 2:
The deflector panel serves as an intermediary element between the open door and the windrow chute. When the door is in the open position, the deflector panel intercepts the high-velocity residue flow and redirects it onto the chute, preventing direct discharge onto the field and enabling cohesive windrow formation.
2Ease of operation
If the windrow door is kept closed to direct crop residue into the chopper/spreader, then residue distribution is controlled, but the ability to form windrows on the field is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The windrow door assembly incorporates dynamic positioning capability through the rotatable deflector panel. The deflector panel can be rotated to different angular positions to adapt residue flow direction based on operational requirements - directing residue into the chopper/spreader when closed or onto the windrow chute when open, providing operational versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The windrow door assembly serves multiple functions: it controls residue discharge timing, regulates opening size, directs residue flow onto the chute, and enables both windrow formation and chopper/spreader operation. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate mechanisms for different residue disposal methods.
3Speed
If crop residue is discharged at high velocity directly onto the field, then discharge speed is increased for efficiency, but cohesive windrow formation is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The deflector panel provides a cushioning effect by intercepting the high-velocity residue flow before it reaches the field. The panel gradually redirects the residue onto the windrow chute, reducing velocity and allowing the residue to deposit cohesively rather than scattering at high speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The deflector panel converts the harmful high-velocity direct discharge into a beneficial controlled flow onto the chute. By intercepting the fast-moving residue and redirecting it, the system transforms what would be destructive high-speed scattering into a controlled deposition process that forms cohesive windrows.
Data Source
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AI summary
A windrow door assembly for controlling a direction of flow of crop residue expelled from a combine is disclosed. The window door assembly may generally include a door panel extending between a first end and a second end. The door panel may be moveable between a closed position, wherein the crop residue being expelled from the combine is directed along the door panel into a spreader of the combine, and an opened position, wherein the crop residue is directed along the door panel towards a rear opening of the combine. In addition, the windrow door assembly may include a deflector panel rotatably coupled to the door panel. The deflector panel may be configured to alter the direction of flow of the crop residue when the door panel is in the opened position.