Longitudinal axial flow rice thresher feeding rate monitoring based on force sensing resistors

Abstract

The threshing unit is the main working unit of the combine harvester and plays an essential role in rice threshing efficiency, seed loss, and damage. Every thresher has its limitation for feeding, and when the feeding quantity exceeds the maximum rated amount, the thresher gets blocked, resulting in higher losses, low threshing efficiency, more power consumption, and combine overloading shutting down. This study constructed a longitudinal axial flow rice threshing platform, and a stress monitoring system for the threshing drum top cover was designed using force sensing resistors. The sensors were installed on the thresher top cover inner surface to detect the impact and extrusion forces caused by the threshing process and detect the feeding rate when it exceeds the suitable feeding. Three feeding rates (0.8, 1.1, and 1.4 kg/s) and three thresher speeds (1100, 1300, and 1500 rpm) were tested. The time of the testing process was calculated using high-speed photography. The obtained results revealed that the force signals collected by thin-film sensors significantly correlated with thresher rotating speed and feeding rate. The thresher top cover’s average stress, average strain, and average total deformation were simulated using ANSYS finite element analysis. This study provides a new method for threshing drum real-time feeding quantity monitoring and early warning of thresher blockage.

Model and Method of Fault Signal Diagnosis for Blockage and Slippage of Rice Threshing Drum

“…In order to reveal the vibration intensity in the entire frequency domain, this paper analyzes the amplitudes corresponding to all frequency in the low frequency domain (0-80 Hz). Take the root mean square value (RMS), as shown in Equation (22).…”

“…Based on TCP/IP protocol, Si et al realized abnormal signal monitoring and alarm of threshing drum for data communication [19,20]. With the development of communication technology, many scholars have developed a fault monitoring and diagnosis platform for combine harvesters [21]; Abdeen et al used resistance sensors to design stress monitoring system of the top cover of the threshing drum is implemented and the real-time monitoring of the feeding amount of the threshing drum and the early warning function [22]; such monitoring systems usually include monitoring platforms such as rotational speed and torque, monitoring platforms such as clearance, fuel consumption and feed rate [23].…”

Effects of Unbalanced Incentives on Threshing Drum Stability during Rice Threshing

“…The unbalanced excitation of the threshing drum not only comes from the winding of straw, but also the state excitation signal of the continuous roller bearing used for threshing in the threshing drum device will cause the central trajectory of the central axis of the threshing drum to change [10]. In order to observe the change in the central trajectory more accurately, vibration changes on threshing cylinders are detected with a monitoring system [11]. In addition, relevant studies have shown that the wear rate of threshing drum can be reduced by changing suitable materials [12].…”