Adjustable Manure Movers for Amphibious Lagoon Agitation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing amphibious vehicles for liquid manure lagoons lack adjustable components that can efficiently agitate and pump manure without malfunctioning in a dirty environment, ensuring thorough mixing and efficient operation.
Innovation Solution
The amphibious vehicle features adjustable liquid manure movers with pivoting linkage assemblies and eccentrically positioned mounting plates, allowing vertical and angular adjustments of propellers and nozzles for optimal agitation and propulsion, controlled by a remote system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If liquid manure movers are made robust for dirty environment operation, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the liquid manure movers adjustable in position and orientation through actuated mechanisms. The movers can be dynamically repositioned vertically and angularly to optimize their performance in different operating conditions, allowing the system to adapt to varying agitation and propulsion needs while maintaining robust construction for reliable operation in dirty environments
2Productivity
If adjustable components are added for optimal agitation, then productivity improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics through actuated adjustment mechanisms that enable the liquid manure movers to be repositioned vertically and angularly. This dynamic adjustability allows optimization of agitation effectiveness at different locations and depths in the lagoon, significantly improving productivity by enabling thorough mixing throughout the entire volume of liquid manure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies universality by designing liquid manure movers that can serve multiple functions: agitation at various depths, propulsion, and steering. The adjustable components allow the same mover to be positioned for different operational modes, reducing the need for separate specialized devices and improving overall system productivity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures thorough agitation and efficient operation in all lagoon locations, maintaining robust performance in dirty conditions without undue malfunctioning.
Implementation Method 1
a pivoting linkage assembly connecting the first liquid manure mover to the vehicle, the pivoting linkage assembly comprising a plurality of linkage arms pivotally connected in a closed-loop series
Implementation Method 2
a mounting plate having an eccentrically positioned lobe, the second liquid manure mover mounted on the mounting plate; and, a mounting plate actuator pivotally connected to the vehicle body and pivotally connected to the eccentrically positioned lobe
Data Source
AI summary
An amphibious vehicle for operation in a liquid manure lagoon has a first liquid manure mover (e.g., a propeller or a nozzle) that is vertically adjustable through a closed-loop linkage assembly to change the vertical position of the first liquid manure mover with respect to the surface of the liquid manure lagoon. The vehicle has a second liquid manure mover (e.g., a propeller or a nozzle) that is angularly adjustable to adjust the orientation of the second liquid manure mover with respect to the surface of the liquid manure lagoon.