The present invention relates to Combine Harvester with two low power engines for its all drive requirements, as an improved agricultural machine. As the combine harvester comprises of multiple engines of comparatively lower horse power, it is provisioned for better performance in fuel efficient manner. Such development in the instant combine harvester is very much non-obvious, particularly in view of well established and well practiced conventional combine harvesters (namely of Class, CNH, John Deere, Ref Fig. 2, 3 and 4) amongst public, which conventionally use single engine of higher HP as power source for driving the wheel and for driving other various auxiliary functions.
Background of the present invention:
Currently in all combine Harvester machines single engine of higher power is used for performing all its operations, including driving. Single engine is the power source for all the power requirements of conventional harvester, either for driving the wheel or other auxiliary function. Figure 1 illustrates the different functional areas where available power on the machine is used.
• Reel Drive
• Feeder Drive
• Power Take-off Drive
• Grain Elevator Drive
• Thresher Drive
• Grain Unloading Drive
• Wheel Drive
• Sieve Drive
As each of the above drives is conventionally powered through single engine, therefore higher power engine is required to operate. This concept demands higher fuel even when it is not harvesting and running in field to field and on road. Functioning of conventional system can be understood through Block diagram of Figure 2.
Drawbacks of conventional systems:
1) Higher fuel consumption due to higher HP engine used
2) Higher Fuel Consumption for transport condition
3) Higher fuel consumption during field to field movement
4) If engine break-down observed in field, serviceability and repair is difficult.
Combine harvester machines, available under various brands like CLAAS, CNH, and JOHN DEERE can be observed, where single engine for Combine Harvester is used for all drive requirement. Figures 3-5 indicate the engine power requirements and number of engine(s) on conventional combine harvester.
In view of the current scenario of combine harvester related practices, it is the requirement of the present age to develop such an advanced combine harvester machine, which is fuel efficient, easy in operation, have simple construction, easy in use and cost effective in maintenance. The present invention is an effort towards achieving such an advance machine, which not only tries to address drawbacks of conventional combine harvester systems but also looks into environment friendly technical solutions.
Prime object of the instant invention is to provide a combine harvester comprising plurality of engines for catering its power requirements, wherein said combine harvester machine comprises at least two low power engines, capable of being operated independently from each other for driving the wheel and for driving other various auxiliary functions.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an advanced combine harvester machine, which is characterized in its structural and/or construction technicalities towards achieving at least one of the following operational capabilities:-
• Substantial fuel saving in field application and transport application;
• Easy serviceability during field operation as if auxiliary function engine gets breakdown, while drive can still be operated; and
• The harvester machine run 60% of time in field and rest of the time it runs on road so with disengaged drive for other functions, the operating cost will be reduced drastically.
Another object of the instant invention is to provide the most preferred embodiment of the combine harvester machine comprising two engines, of comparatively lower capacity (HP) than conventional ones, and standardising parameters for its reliability testing and performance verification.
Summary of the Present Invention:
To overcome the above drawbacks and keeping future requirement of the complexity of engines, where cost increase is the major factor, current invention proposes use of multiple engines of lower HP for combine harvesters, which proves to be highly beneficial for farmers and industries.
The instant invention provides a combine harvester comprising plurality of engines, for catering its power requirements, wherein the most preferred embodiment of the said combine harvester machine comprises two low power engines, capable of being operated independently from each other for driving the wheel and for driving other various auxiliary functions.
The combine harvester machine of the instant invention, comprising two engines of low HP, is characterized in its structural and/or construction technicalities towards achieving at least one of the following operational capabilities:-
• Substantial fuel saving in field application and transport application;
• Easy serviceability during field operation as if auxiliary function engine gets breakdown, while drive can still be operated; and
• The harvester machine run 60% of time in field and rest of the time it runs on road so with disengaged drive for other functions, the operating cost will be reduced drastically.
Detailed description of the present invention:-
Short details of the drawings:
Figure 1:- Schematic representation for the GA view of drives requirements for the Combine Harvester machine;
Figure 2:- Block Diagram of single engine of higher power provides drive to all functions in conventionally available Harvester;
Figure 3:- JOHN DEERE Combine Harvester-Model W70;
Figure 4:- CLAAS Combine Harvester-CROP TIGER 40;
Figure 5:- CNH Combine Harvester-TC5.30
Figure 6:- Schematic representation of the General assembly view for drive arrangement for wheel Combine Harvester with two engines;
Figure 7:- Block diagram of using two engine of lower horse power for drive to all functions in Combine Harvester.
List of numeric references used for labeling of drawings:-
Numeric Reference Particulars describing the numeric reference
1 Reel drive
2 Feeder to cutter-bar
3 Guide drum to feeder
4 Gear box to thresher drum
5 Gear box to guide pin
6 Guide drum to grain elevator
7 Power take off drive
8 Front wheel drive
Referring to the examples, given below in figures 1 to 5 for single engine used for combine harvester which is in the range of 60 HP to 130 HP by CLAAS, CNH and JOHN DEERE. The same concept is being used for all type of grain harvesters currently in use, where higher HP single engine is used.
In view of the current scenario of combine harvester related practices, it is the requirement of the present age to develop such an advanced combine harvester machine, which is fuel efficient, easy in operation, have simple construction, easy in use and cost effective in maintenance.
The present invention is an effort towards achieving such an advance machine, which not only tries to address drawbacks of conventional combine harvester systems but also looks into environment friendly technical solutions.
Toward reducing fuel consumption and achieving better efficiency towards functionality as well as maintenance, it is requirement of the present time to develop combine harvester comprising multiple engines, preferably of lower power capacity to cater various functions.
Therefore the present invention provides such a combine harvester machine (9), to be commercialized at least in Indian agro-machinery market, which preferably uses double engines of lower HP (10) and (11), instead of using higher HP single engine. Said two engines (10) and (11) are preferably selected in such a manner that one engine (10), responsible for travelling of the combine harvester vehicle (9) is comparatively higher in HP capacity with respect to the second engine (11), responsible for non-transport operations. Therefore the power capacity for each of the two engines of the Combine Harvester machine (9) is selected in the range of 2HP to 130 HP, more preferably in the range of 2HP to 60 HP and further more preferably in the range of 2HP to 40HP. Out of the plurality of low HP engines (10) and (11) provisioned in the combine harvester machine (9) of the instant invention, the main engine (10), which is responsible for operating the front wheel drive (8), apart from any other optionally selected auxiliary drives, is preferably selected as the engine with highest horse power capacity.
Major benefits associated with the instant combine harvester comprising two engines of low HP are as described below:
• Substantial Fuel Saving in field application and transport application.
• Easy serviceability during field operation as if auxiliary function engine gets breakdown, drive can still be operated.
• The Harvester machine run 60% of time in field and rest of the time it runs on road so with disengaged drive for other function the operating cost will be reduced drastically.
Lower horse power engines can be used to power the Combine harvester. Main engine assembly (10) is so provisioned for primarily driving of the combine harvester vehicle (9) (either two wheel drive (2WD) or four wheel drive (4WD)) and also few other drives as optional operations. In preferred embodiment of the combine harvester machine (9), customized with the front wheel drive (8), wherein the main engine (10) is responsible for operating the said front wheel drive (8).
The other engine(s) (11) can be so assembled and customized thereof for other auxiliary power requirement, namely for operating at least one of the following drives:- Reel drive (1), Feeder to cutter-bar (2), Guide drum to feeder (3), Gear box to thresher drum (4), Gear box to guide pin (5), Guide drum to grain elevator (6) and Power take off drive (7).
The idea can be well understood through following sketches as shown below and with two engine and drive arrangement.
Schematic drawing of Figure 6 indicates general assembly view for drive arrangement for wheel combine harvester (9) with two engines (10) and (11).
Most important challenge in the present invention is to use the double engines of lower HP instead of using higher HP single engine for following major benefits:-
1) Substantial Fuel Saving in field application and transport application
2) Easy serviceability during field operation as if auxiliary function engine gets breakdown, drive can still be operated.
3) The Harvester machine run 60% of time in field and rest of the time it runs on road so with disengaged drive for other function the operating cost will be reduced drastically.
Refer Fig.7 for block diagram of drive to various functions with two engines.
Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described/illustrated, it will at once be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention includes advantages and features over and beyond the specific illustrated construction. Accordingly it is intended that the scope of the invention be limited solely by the scope of the claims, and not by the foregoing specification, when interpreted in light of the relevant prior art.

WE CLAIM:

The combine harvester (9) with two low HP engines for all drive requirements, wherein said combine harvester machine (9) comprises at least two low power engines(10) and (11), capable of being operated independently from each other for driving the wheels of the vehicle through front wheel drive (8) as well as for operating other auxiliary drives, namely: Reel drive (1), Feeder to cutter-bar (2), Guide drum to feeder (3), Gear box to thresher drum (4), Gear box to guide pin (5), Guide drum to grain elevator (6) and Power take off drive (7).
2. The combine harvester machine (9), as claimed in claim 1, wherein said combine harvester (9) is characterized in the assemblies and operations of such multiple low power engines (10) and (11) with structural components of the combine harvester system and their assemblies towards driving wheels and other performing various auxiliary functions.
3. The combine harvester (9), as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the most preferred embodiment comprises two low HP engine for all drive requirement, instead of using higher HP single engine, for achieving at least one of the following functional/technical aspect:
• Substantial Fuel Saving in field application and transport application;
• Easy serviceability during field operation as if auxiliary function engine gets breakdown, drive can still be operated;
• The Harvester machine run 60% of time in field and rest of the time it runs on road so with disengaged drive for other function the operating cost will be reduced drastically.
4. The combine harvester (9), as claimed in any of the preceding claims 1 to 3, characterized in its structural and/or construction technicalities towards achieving at least one of the following operational capabilities:-
• Substantial fuel saving in field application and transport application;
• Easy serviceability during field operation as if auxiliary function engine gets breakdown, while drive can still be operated; and
• The harvester machine run 60% of time in field and rest of the time it runs on road so with disengaged drive for other functions, the operating cost will be reduced drastically.
5. The combine harvester (9) with two low HP engines (10) and (11) for all drive requirements, as claimed in any of the preceding claims 1 to 4, wherein said two engines (10) and (11) are preferably selected in such a manner that one engine (10), responsible for travelling of the combine harvester vehicle (9) is comparatively higher in HP capacity with respect to the second engine (11), responsible for non-transport operations.
6. The combine harvester (9) with two low HP engines (10) and (11) for all drive requirements, as claimed in any of the preceding claims 1 to 5, wherein the power capacity for each of the two engines (10) and (11) of the Combine Harvester machine (9) is selected in the range of 2HP to 130 HP, more preferably in the range of 2HP to 60 HP and further more preferably in the range of 2HP to 40HP.
7. The combine harvester (9) with two low HP engines (10) and (11) for all drive requirements, as claimed in any of the preceding claims 1 to 6, wherein out of the plurality of low HP engines (10) and (11) provisioned in the combine harvester machine (9) of the instant invention, the main engine (10), which is responsible for operating the front wheel drive (8), apart from any other optionally selected auxiliary drives, is preferably selected as the engine with highest horse power capacity.
8. The combine harvester (9) with two low HP engines (10) and (11) for all drive requirements, as claimed in any of the preceding claims 1 to 7, wherein main engine assembly (10) is so provisioned for primarily driving of the combine harvester vehicle (9) (either two wheel drive (2WD) or four wheel drive (4WD)) and also few other drives as optional operations.
9. The combine harvester (9) with two low HP engines (10) and (11) for all drive requirements, as claimed in any of the preceding claims 1 to 8, wherein second low HP engine (11) is so assembled and customized thereof for operating other auxiliary power requiring drives other than the front wheel drive (8), namely for operating at least one of the following drives:- Reel drive (1), Feeder to cutter-bar (2), Guide drum to feeder (3), Gear box to thresher drum (4), Gear box to guide pin (5), Guide drum to grain elevator (6) and Power take off drive (7).