Experimental study on the key factors of low-loss threshing of high-moisture maize

The rates of maize breakage and entrainment loss are high in the harvest of high-moisture maize,which remains an issue with the development of agricultural mechanization.In order to reduce the maize breakage and entrainment loss rates,the correlations among key factors,such as the threshing cylinder speed,concave clearance and feeding rate,and the rates of breakage and entrainment loss during high-moisture maize harvesting were studied in this paper.A single-factor experiment was carried out using a single-longitudinal-axial flow maize harvester,and an orthogonal experiment was carried out using single-and double-longitudinal-axial flow maize harvesters with the Taguchi experimental design method.The single-factor experiment revealed that when the cylinder speed increased,the breakage rate of maize decreased first and then increased,while the entrainment loss rate decreased.The breakage rate of maize decreased as the concave clearance increased,while the entrainment loss rate decreased first and then increased.The optimum value of the concave clearance was positively correlated with the ear diameter of maize;Additionally,the minimum breakage rate of maize occurred when the feeding rate was at the rated value,and the entrainment loss rate increased as the feeding rate increased.The orthogonal experiments revealed that the importance of cylinder speed,feeding rate,concave clearance on the maize breakage and entrainment loss rates were in descending order.The optimum values of parameters for the single-longitudinal-axial flow maize harvester were 370 r/min cylinder speed,40 mm concave clearance and 10 kg/s feeding rate.The optimum values of parameters the double-longitudinal-axial flow maize harvester were 550 r/min cylinder speed,35 mm concave clearance and 10 kg/s feeding rate.The research can provide a reference for parameter configuration and control strategy for the longitudinal-axial flow maize harvester with high-moisture maize.

Development and performance evaluation of the electric-hydraulic concave clearance control system based on maize feed rate mon

Complex field environments,diverse crop conditions,and varying feed rate fluctuations commonly result in a decline in the threshing performance and the clogging of the threshing cylinder for maize harvesters.In order to overcome these problems,an electric-hydraulic concave clearance automatic control system for the threshing unit was developed based on the maize feed rate monitoring,which can automatically realize the best match between the concave clearance and diverse feed rates during harvesting.The threshing performance of the electric-hydraulic control system was evaluated for varying and uneven maize feed rate fluctuations,such as the feed rate increased(6-8-10 kg/s),the feed rate decreased after an increase(6-10-8 kg/s,8-10-6 kg/s),the feed rate increased after a decrease(8-6-10 kg/s,10-6-8 kg/s),and the feed rate decreased(10-8-6 kg/s).In particular,the threshing rotor shaft peak torque,the range of threshing rotor shaft torque,the rate of broken grains(BGR),and the rate of unthreshed grains(UGR)with and without the electric-hydraulic control system were tested.Treatments with the electric-hydraulic control system were adjustable concave clearance with the value of 45 mm,50 mm,and 55 mm.Treatments without the electric-hydraulic control system were constant concave clearance(50 mm).Results demonstrate that the threshing unit with the electric-hydraulic control system outperformed the one without the electric-hydraulic control system,with threshing rotor peak torque,the range of threshing rotor axis torque,the BGR,and the UGR decreasing by 18.38%,38.27%,2.08%,and 0.10%,respectively.Moreover,the rate of broken grains was lower than 5.00%,better than the national standard.Thus,the feed rate fluctuations and timely adjustment of the concave clearance were able to avoid blocking the rotor and improve the threshing performance compared to the constant concave clearance.

Bionic design and performance test of maize grain cleaning screen through earthworm motion characteristics

The maize mixture feeding with a large mass cannot be migrated backward rapidly along the planar reciprocating vibrating screen,and it is easy to accumulate in the front of the screen,which leads to the decrease of screening efficiency.Based on the reverse engineering technology,using the wavy geometry formed during the earthworm(Pheretima guillelmi)moving as a bionic prototype,a bionic screen was designed to make the maize mixture migrate backward rapidly in the front of the screen.The contour curve of earthworm’s head in an axial contracted state was extracted and fitted to obtain its equation.Based on the difference of concave position of the lower surface’s wavy geometry during the earthworm moving,the motion of the bionic screen was divided into four postures,and the conversion between different postures of the bionic screen was realized by the cam drive mechanism.The kinematics simulation of the bionic screen was carried out through ADAMS,and the displacement and velocity of the bionic screen were analyzed.When the feeding mass of the maize mixture was set at 5 kg/s,6 kg/s and 7 kg/s,the test results showed that the time of the maize mixture migrated(TOMMM)in the front of the bionic screen was shortened by 0.18 s,0.71 s,and 1.36 s,respectively,compared with that of planar reciprocating vibrating screen.The total screening time(TST)of the bionic screen was shortened by 1.28 s,1.33 s,and 1.53 s,respectively.The ability of the maize mixture to be migrated backward was improved.This study can provide a reference for the innovative design of the cleaning screen.

Experiments and modeling of mechanism analysis of maize picking loss

Maize picking is the main form of maize harvest in China.Maize picking loss accounts for a large proportion of the current maize harvest loss.An experimental study and a theoretical analysis were conducted to explore the influencing factors and rules of maize picking loss.First,the boundary conditions,established by analyzing the mechanism of maize picking,determined the influences of maize picking loss.Then,single-factor experiments and a central composite design(CCD)method were used to determine the influence of various factors and their interactions on maize picking loss.Finally,the models of kernel loss and ear loss were set up to determine the optimal parameter combination of maize picking harvest.Field experiment verification was conducted.The results indicated that the optimal parameters of the maize picking harvest were the rotational speed of pulling rollers of 1120 r/min,operating speed of 1.94 m/s,the inclination of the header of 18°and clearance between the picking plates of 30 mm.By establishing these optimal parameters,the kernel loss rate was 0.065%,and the ear loss rate was 0%.The obtained experimental results and regression models could be used to predict the performance of the maize picking harvest,guide the adjustment of header working parameters,and provide a theoretical basis for reducing the mechanical loss of maize harvesting.