Amphibious Manure Pumping Vehicle for Mid-Lagoon Recirculation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pumps are limited in their ability to recirculate manure from the middle of large lagoons, which are becoming increasingly common as animal husbandry operations expand, due to their reliance on edge access and tractor connection.
Innovation Solution
An amphibious pumping vehicle equipped with a floatable body, ground engaging propulsion structure, fluid pump, and power source, allowing independent wheel control, fluid nozzle direction, and remote operation for effective recirculation across large lagoons.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If pumps are connected to tractors or land vehicles for operational power, then they can be operated from the edge of pits or lagoons, but they are limited in their ability to recirculate manure to the middle of large lagoons
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the pump system with an amphibious vehicle platform, merging land-based accessibility with water-based mobility. This allows the pump to operate both on land at the lagoon edge and on water in the middle of large lagoons, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation from the edge and adaptability to reach the middle of large lagoons
Solution Approach 2:
The amphibious vehicle-pump system serves multiple functions: it can operate on land for edge access, transition to water for middle lagoon access, and provide both pumping and mobility functions. This multi-functionality enables the system to adapt to various lagoon sizes and operational requirements, overcoming the limitations of traditional land-vehicle-connected pumps
2Ease of operation
If conventional steering is used in wet or muddy conditions, then directional control may be achieved on firm ground, but steering is likely to be ineffective due to sliding of the steerable wheels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs hydrostatic steering using hydraulic motors connected to the drive wheels. This hydraulic system provides reliable directional control in wet and muddy conditions by using fluid pressure transmission rather than mechanical steering, preventing wheel slide and ensuring effective steering where conventional mechanical systems would fail
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical steering systems with a hydrostatic steering system that uses hydraulic motors. This substitution eliminates the sliding problem associated with mechanical steering in muddy conditions, as the hydraulic system can maintain control through fluid pressure even when physical contact with the ground is slippery
3Device complexity
If a single power source is used for both propulsion and pumping, then device complexity is reduced, but the power source must be sufficiently large to handle both functions simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the propulsion system and pumping system into a single integrated amphibious vehicle platform with one power source. This merging reduces overall device complexity by eliminating the need for separate land vehicle and pump systems, while the single power source is sized to handle both functions simultaneously
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
Enables efficient disruption and recirculation of manure crusts in large lagoons, improving operational flexibility and reducing maintenance needs, with enhanced handling and directional control.
Implementation Method 1
a floatable vehicle body; Floatation of the vehicle body may be provided by a displacement hull, pontoon elements, or buoyant elements
Implementation Method 2
a fluid pump; a first fluid nozzle configured to direct fluid through the air, the fluid nozzle connected by a fluid conduit to the fluid pump
Implementation Method 3
ground engaging propulsion structure configured to raise and lower relative to the vehicle body; The ground engaging propulsion structure may comprise ground engaging elements of the type suitable for powering a vehicle across wet or muddy terrain
Data Source
AI summary
An amphibious vehicle for operation in a liquid manure lagoon, the vehicle comprising: a floatable vehicle body; a ground engaging propulsion structure; a liquid manure pump for pumping liquid manure from the liquid manure lagoon; a power source for powering both the ground engaging propulsion structure and the liquid manure pump; and, a remote control structure for controlling the ground engaging propulsion structure, the liquid manure pump and the power source.