Adjustable Drive Agitator Auger for Granular Material Feeding
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural implements that distribute granular materials face issues where high auger conveyor feed rates can cause material to be pressed together at the outlet, leading to damage and operational challenges.
Innovation Solution
A device with an adjustable drive system that allows the agitator and auger conveyor to be driven independently or together, using a common geometric axis and a coupling device like a freehub to manage rotation directions, ensuring material is not pressed together and facilitating efficient feeding and agitation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the auger conveyor feed rate is increased to improve material distribution efficiency, then productivity is improved, but the material gets pressed together at the outlet causing damage and operational problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the drive system adjustable between different operating states. The drive device can be switched between a first state (agitor only), second state (auger conveyor only), and third state (both together), allowing the system to adapt its feed rate dynamically based on material conditions and operational requirements, thereby preventing material damage while maintaining productivity
2Productivity
If the auger conveyor and agitator are driven simultaneously to improve material feeding, then productivity is improved, but the material can be pressed together at the outlet
Solution Approach 1:
The drive device is designed to be adjustable between multiple operating states, allowing dynamic control of the relative speeds and operational states of the auger conveyor and agitator. This enables the system to optimize material feeding while preventing harmful compression by selecting appropriate operating states based on material flow conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the drive system by introducing adjustable drive rates for the auger conveyor and agitator. The drive device can operate at different speed combinations and states, allowing parameter optimization to achieve effective material feeding without excessive compression at the outlet
3Device complexity
If a common drive shaft is used for auger conveyor and agitator to simplify the device structure, then device complexity is reduced, but the feed rate cannot be independently controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The drive system is segmented into separate drive mechanisms for the auger conveyor and agitator, each with independent speed and operational control. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of feed rates while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through shared mounting and coordinated control
Data Source
AI summary
A device (16) for feeding granular material in an agricultural implement comprises an auger conveyor (163a, 163b), which is designed to feed the material, an agitator (162), and a drive device (167, 168a, 168b) for driving the agitator (162) and the auger conveyor (163a, 163b). The drive device (167, 168a, 168b) is adjustable between a first operating state, in which the agitator (162) is driven, but not the auger conveyor (163a, 163b), and a second operating state, in which both the agitator (162) and the auger conveyor (163a, 163b) are driven.