Agricultural Distributor Head with Movable Ring for Jam-Free Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing distributor heads for agricultural devices face issues with jamming due to granulated material accumulation and require multiple hoops for adjusting distribution areas, leading to complex structures and increased weight.
Innovation Solution
A distributor head design featuring an outer hoop with evenly spaced outlets, a movably positioned ring with guiding pins and grooves, and a driving mechanism connected by levers, allowing for three operating positions to adjust the distribution area without the need for multiple hoops, ensuring fluent movement and reduced maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple hoops are used to adjust distribution area, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The distributor head is segmented into an outer hoop with outlets and an inner movable ring with openings, allowing independent control of distribution area through the ring's position rather than requiring multiple complete hoops
Solution Approach 2:
The inner ring is made movable relative to the outer hoop, enabling dynamic adjustment of the distribution area by changing the ring's position between covering and non-covering outlet configurations
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple hoops are used to adjust distribution area, then adaptability is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The functionality of multiple hoops is extracted and consolidated into a single outer hoop combined with a movable inner ring, removing the need for multiple complete hoop structures and thereby reducing weight
3Adaptability or versatility
If hoops move vertically within distributor head, then distribution area adjustment is enabled, but granulated material accumulates in grooves causing jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding grooves are designed with self-cleaning functionality where the movable ring's movement pattern prevents material accumulation, converting the potential harm of material buildup into a self-cleaning mechanism that maintains reliable operation
4Adaptability or versatility
If exit pairs are spaced with gaps to allow closing device movement, then distribution area adjustment is enabled, but head circumference increases leading to bigger construction
Solution Approach 1:
The closing mechanism transitions from a radial arrangement requiring gaps in the hoop to an axial arrangement where the movable ring shifts along the axis, eliminating the need for increased circumference while maintaining adjustment capability
Data Source
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AI summary
A distributor head (1) of a distribution agricultural device comprising an outer hoop (5) provided with at least four outlets (2) of the same size, arranged evenly along the circumference of the outer hoop (5), a movably positioned ring (6), a main inlet (102), and a driving mechanism (9) connected with the ring (6) through a ring attachment (8), wherein the ring (6) is provided with a number of evenly arranged openings (7, 8A) of the same size, number of which corresponds to half of the number of outlets (2). The ring (6) can be in three operating positions (11A, 11), wherein in the first position (11), the ring (6) is located in the same plane as the outer hoop (5) and therefore covers every other outlet (2), in the second position (11) it is not located in the same plane as the outer hoop (5) and thus does not cover any outlet (2), and in the third position (11) it is located in the same plane as the outer hoop (5) and thus covers every other outlet (2), wherein the outlets (2) covered in the third position (11) are different from the outlets (2) covered in the first position (11) of the ring (6).