Animal Brushing Device Motor Standstill Torque Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing animal brushing devices require significant mechanical effort to detect an animal's desire for brushing and can be burdensome, especially for smaller animals, and often necessitate additional weight compensation, which complicates the activation mechanism and may not accommodate animals of varying sizes effectively.
Innovation Solution
The device monitors the motor's standstill for any unintended rotation, using terminal voltage or a Hall effect sensor to detect animal-induced torque, allowing the motor to switch on only when an animal approaches, thus minimizing mechanical complexity and effort, and can be adjusted for different animal sizes with a height-adjustable or oscillating brush configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a lifting mechanism with sensor is used to detect animal's desire for brushing, then the activation can be triggered, but the mechanical effort required is considerable and additional weight compensation is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical lifting detection system with an electrical sensing system. Instead of using a mechanical sensor that detects brush lifting, the invention uses a sensor that directly detects the animal's presence or contact with the brush. This substitution eliminates the need for complex mechanical lifting mechanisms and weight compensation systems, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining ease of activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and removes the lifting mechanism from the system entirely. By detecting the animal's desire for brushing through direct contact or proximity sensing rather than through brush displacement, the patent eliminates the mechanical components responsible for lifting and weight compensation, simplifying the overall device structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the brush is mounted too low to be accessible to smaller animals, then larger animals can use it, but smaller animals cannot reach or activate it
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an oscillating brush mechanism that dynamically adjusts its position and contact pressure. The brush oscillates back and forth, creating varying zones of contact that can accommodate animals of different sizes. This dynamic motion allows smaller animals to access the brush more easily during certain phases of the oscillation cycle, while larger animals can still effectively use it during other phases, thereby improving adaptability without compromising accessibility.
3Device complexity
If the brush is mounted at a fixed position, then the structure is simple, but animals of different sizes cannot all access it effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static fixed-position brush into a dynamic oscillating brush while maintaining relatively simple structural support. The oscillation mechanism adds minimal structural complexity but significantly enhances adaptability, allowing animals of various sizes to access the brush effectively during different phases of the oscillation cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds the temporal dimension through oscillation, transforming a static spatial arrangement into a dynamic one. By introducing time-varying motion, the brush creates multiple effective contact zones over time, accommodating different animal sizes without requiring complex multi-position structural adjustments.
4Ease of operation
If the motor runs permanently to ensure readiness, then immediate brushing is available, but electricity is wasted when not needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic sensing and on-demand motor activation. Instead of continuous operation, the system periodically checks for animal presence or contact and activates the motor only when needed. This periodic action pattern ensures immediate brushing availability when an animal approaches while minimizing electricity consumption during idle periods when no animals are present.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses sensor feedback to control motor operation. The sensor continuously or periodically monitors for animal presence or brush contact, and this feedback signal triggers motor activation only when an animal is detected. This feedback-based control ensures the motor is ready to operate immediately upon animal approach while avoiding unnecessary energy consumption during extended idle periods.
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
This solution enables immediate and clear detection of an animal's desire for brushing without excessive mechanical effort, ensuring the device is accessible to animals of various sizes and reduces the burden on them, while maintaining efficient energy use by only activating the motor when needed.
Implementation Method 1
when the motor is at a standstill, its rotation is constantly monitored in order to detect a rotation which is not triggered by the motor being activated
Implementation Method 2
a Hall effect sensor or another sensor sensitive to magnetic fields could also be provided in the air gap between the stator and rotor in order to detect a change in the magnetic field or the magnetic field distribution
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device for brushing animals with at least one brush rotatably mounted about an axis, which can be driven by a motor, wherein when the motor is at rest its rotation is permanently monitored in order to detect a rotation of the motor not triggered by a control of the motor and then to use this as a criterion for switching on the motor.