Microcombine/Research Development
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Research
- Microcombine Function is to harvest various field crops. Harvesting consists of reaping, threshing, and winnowing.
- Reaping is to cut crops (ex. ears of grain) for gathering, which simplifies subsequent harvesting stages.
- Threshing is to separate stalks from the accumulated crop
- Winnowing is to separate inedible chaff from the edible part of the crop.
Theory
- Harvesting is a critical agricultural process for which the microcombine provides an automated means of operation.
Relevant Links
Combine Full Process Internal Animation - Excellent Visual Explanation
Conceptual Notes
Wanted: Ifs, ands and buts.
Development
Overview
- Reaping System - pulls crops toward microcombine and cuts the crops near the ground as they are moved further in and eventually fed into the threshing system.
- Threshing System - rolls crops through "concaves" during which threshing drums beat the crop so that the non-stalk part (ex. grain) falls through the concave's openings to the bottom. The stalk is moved further by "walkers" to the spreader while the non-stalk crop is moved further by an oscillating screen to the winnowing system.
- Winnowing System - The non-stalk crop part is moved into "sieves" that oscillate and are subjected to an air blower directed upwards and to the rear of the microcombine. Using the proper predetermined blower setting, the lighter inedible chaff is separated from the heavier edible part of the crop. The edible crop is moved by augurs to the storage system while the chaff is blown outside behind the combine.
- Collecting System
- Hydraulic System
- Control System
- Structural System
Reaping System
- Header - rotates and pulls crop toward microcombine
- Loading Platform - provides a surface on which crops slide into combine
- Pickup Reel - rotates to hold crops for cutting by cutting bar and also moves crops further into microcombine
- Cutting Bar - cuts crops near the ground to allow the ground-separated crops to be easily moved further into microcombine; also known as "mowing fingers".
- Feeder Chain - moves crops from the end of the reaping system to the start of the threshing system
Threshing System
- Universal Concave
- Threshing Drum
- Walker
- Oscillation Bar
Winnowing System
- Sieve
- Air Pump
- Oscillation Bar
Collecting System
- Collecting Tank
- Unloader
Hydraulic System
- Header Hydraulic Cylinder - adjusts the height of the header
- Loading Platform Hydraulic Cylinder - adjusts the height of the loading platform
Control System
Structural System
Design
- Requirements
- Speed
- Throughput
- Weight
- Size Constraints
- Feed stock
- Design Description
- Calculations
- Drawings and Diagrams
- Concept and Alternatives
- Full Design Views
- Cut-away Views
- Exploded Parts View
- 3D Renders
- Decisions
- Project Team
Industry Standards
| Industry Standard | GVCSTool |
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Funding
Wanted: List of expenses for prototyping and documenting GVCSTool
Peer Reviews
Wanted: Peer reviews from the scientific community regarding the R&D of GVCSTool
Experiments and Prototypes
Wanted: Empirical data on performance
Experimental Results
Prototype Notes, Observations, etc.
Failure Mode Analysis
Testing Results
Recommendations for Improvement
Research
Combine - Current Work -- Desired Features of the Microcombine
This category is for grain and bean farmers to comment on the features they would find useful in this machine.
Observations:
- Allis-All Crop appears to be nearly ideal (http://www.yazallcrop.com/).
- When raising small grains on a small scale, threshing is the chief bottleneck. I'm willing and able to cut enough wheat with a scythe to feed my extended family, but threshing is another question. It is very laborious and time consuming.
- What I'd like best would be a modular design where I could buy or build the thresher first, then the cleaner, then the cutter bar and pickup wheel in a trailer configuration, then a self-propulsion unit and bolt each one on as it is ready. In my case I'd probably use it towed and never make that last step.
- Bear in mind that agriculture is similar in boot-strapping to this whole project and it is important to be able to get some functionality early (the thresher in this case) and then build on it as resources come on line.
- I'm not as familiar with the all crop as I'd like to be, but I believe it needs a special head to pick corn (maize). I'd call corn picking a "nice to have" which if it could be integrated easily would be fine but otherwise, since it can be managed in so many other ways, should be a very low priorty.
- Since old grain and dirt is very damaging to the device, easy cleaning should be an important consideration.
- A design which leaves the straw windrowed for easy loading or baling is highly desirable.
Combine - Current Work -- Survey of Existing Commercial Models
Small Scale Grain Production Today -- this link is to an article at the website of a commercial dealer in imported European machinery. He has some pictures of stationary threshers that run $5K - $26K. There is a survey of commercial small combines presently being manufactured in Europe and Japan. These small combines retail for $40K - $77k. http://www.ferrari-tractors.com/smallscale.htm
Here is a bean thresher retailing for $9500 without an engine, $11000 with an engine -- http://www.ferrari-tractors.com/PDF%20Articles/Bean%20Threshers%20with%20pictures%20oct%202003.pdf
Article on lower cost small grain harvesting. http://www.ferrari-tractors.com/PDF%20Articles/Grain%20Harvesting%20Options.pdf
Small scale bean harvesting http://www.ferrari-tractors.com/PDF%20Articles/Small%20Scale%20Bean%20Harvesting.pdf
Small scale threshing equipment. http://www.ferrari-tractors.com/PDF%20Articles/Small%20Scale%20Threshing%20Equipment.pdf
Grain harvesting alternative technology http://www.ferrari-tractors.com/PDF%20Articles/Grain%20Harvesting%20Alternative%20Technology.pdf
http://www.ferrari-tractors.com/smallscale.htm
Small grain harvester http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJBcwNMWvRE&feature=grec_index http://www.croplandbiodiesel.com/images/clb-brochure-English-2010.pdf (GO TO PAGE 5 FOR COMBINE SPECS)
ZURN Rocket: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVuBEO-863Q
Massey Ferguson 31: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLkh8qoIrHo&feature=related
Combine - Developments Needed
Combine - General
Wikipedia article on combines -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combine_harvester
1949 Popular Mechanics magazine with cutaway picture of a self-propelled combine of its era, plus pictures of two small miniature reapers at work on extension experimental farms. http://tinyurl.com/3k3func
1937 picture of a self-propelled cutting header, Australia http://museumvictoria.com.au/sunshine/displayimage.asp?iid=13350
More early designed, 1885 to 1930s, from Australia http://museumvictoria.com.au/sunshine/displaysubtheme.asp?stid=4&tid=2
Pictures of threshers, northern Great Plains of the US, 1890s through 1940s. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/award97/ndfahtml/ngpSubjects21.html
Article about the development of the McCormick reaper. http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/wmh/pdf/wmh_spring01_grady.pdf
The Rodale thresher (stationary) http://www.cd3wd.com/cd3wd_40/JF/JF_OTHER/SMALL/Rodale%20grain%20thresher%20-%201977.pdf
Collection of third world implements, document #37 is a pedal powered thresher http://www.cd3wd.com/cd3wd_40/JF/JF_VE/BIG/06-232.pdf
1979 book on the design and building of a pedal thresher. Includes 21 drawings. http://www.cd3wd.com/cd3wd_40/CD3WD/APPRTECH/THRESHER/EN/INDEX.HTM
.
Combine - Specific
Combine - Background Debriefing
Combine - Information Work
Combine - Hardware Work
Combine - Articles
Micro Combines
For small scale agriculture, harvesting can be done with micro combines. Micro combines can be broken down into two categories: towed and self propelled. Towed combines are hard to find due to them being out of production since the ‘60s in the U.S. However, demand for them is growing with small scale farmers. The old Allis Chalmers model 60 combines were widely used in America as one of the main combines used for grain harvesting. They can be pulled behind a tractor, and are PTO driven. Some companies have started buying these combines, refurbishing them, and reselling them to farmers. Self propelled combines are the types currently being developed. Operators of these machines either ride them or must walk behind them as they harvest. These self propelled units are beginning to see more use in rice harvesting in Asian countries. The combines in the following list are all self propelled with the exception of the Shenmao Harvester, which is hand held.
Briggs & Stratton Model Picture taken from: http://www.hcmuaf.edu.vn/ctt/softs/pkh/tailieu/tapchi_khkt/2004/TC%20-%204%20-%2004/PHHien.pdf Working width: 1.2 m Working Speed: 1.5 – 2.1 km/hr Idle travel speed: 2.0 – 5.0 km/hr Field capacity: 1 ha/day Cutting height: 0.1 – 0.4 m Combined losses: <2.0 % Engine power: 16 Hp Fuel consumption: 15 L/ha Labor requirement: 5 workers Overall dimensions: 3.5m X 1.5m X 1.5m Net weight: 600 kg
Mitsubishi 502 Rice Harvester Pictures taken from: http://www.ferrari-tractors.com/PDF%20Articles/Micro%20Grain%20Combine%20August%202009.pdf
Head width: 25” Field capacity: 1 acre/9 hrs Unit cost: $25,000 Wheel type: Crawler tracks
Cicoria Combine Picture taken from: http://www.ferrari-tractors.com/pictures/ss11.htm
Head width: 78” Overall dimensions: 192” X 92” Unit weight: 5,390 lbs Head type: General crop header with axial threshing drum Engine power: 38 Hp
Shenmao Harvester Picture taken from: http://shenmao.en.alibaba.com/product/250305412-209425313/43cc_small_Grain_Harvester.html
Engine size: 43cc 2-stroke Unit weight: 7.5 kg No other information could be found, so it is unclear how well it actually works
Agriculture in developing countries is largely done on many small scale plots, and there is a need for small scale harvesters to help increase crop production. There are already several companies producing micro combines and harvesters, but there is still a need for cheaper and more efficient machines. Continued development of micro combines will help make small scale farmers better able to make a living, and make their lives easier.
Works Cited
Canales, E. 1999. Small Scale Grain Production Today. Gridley, CA.: Ferrari Tractors. Available at: http://www.ferrari-tractors.com/smallscale.htm. Accessed 23 January 2010.
Hien, P. H., and L. Van Ban. 2004, The Mini Combine-Harvester: Research Results and a Related Automation Concept. Journal of Agricultural Sciences and Technology. 4: 95-100.
Micro Grain Combine. Gridley, CA.: Ferrari Tractors. Available at: http://www.ferrari-tractors.com/PDF%20Articles/Micro%20Grain%20Combine%20August%202009.pdf . Accessed 25 March 2010.
Zhejiang Shenmao Appliance Co., Ltd. Available at: http://shenmao.en.alibaba.com/product/250305412-209425313/43cc_small_Grain_Harvester.html . Accessed 25 March 2010.
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See Also
