Animal Brushing Arrangement with Optical Rotation Sensor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Small animals such as calves and goats are unable to lift a brush sufficiently to trigger the electric motor in existing animal brushing arrangements, preventing on-demand brushing.

Innovation Solution

An animal brushing arrangement with a rotation sensor that senses externally applied forces, allowing small animals to trigger the electric motor and start the brush rotation, using a control system to manage the motor and prevent accidental starts through a predetermined number of electrical pulses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a switch arranged on the brush carrying arrangement is used to trigger brush rotation, then the brush can be activated by animal interaction, but small animals such as calves and goats cannot trigger the switch because they are not strong enough to lift the brush

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability of animal to trigger brushVSAvoidforce required to trigger switch

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical switch triggering system with an optical sensing system. Instead of requiring physical lifting force to actuate a mechanical switch, the invention uses a light source and light receiver that detect rotational movement of the brush through optical means. This substitution eliminates the need for small animals to generate sufficient mechanical force, allowing them to trigger brush rotation through gentle contact that produces detectable rotational movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Use of energy by moving object

If the electric motor is started and stopped on-demand based on animal presence, then energy is saved when no animal is present, but the triggering mechanism must be sensitive enough to detect small animals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumption of motorVSAvoiddetection sensitivity for animal presence

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical detection methods with optical sensing to achieve higher measurement precision. The light source and light receiver detect rotational movement of the brush with high sensitivity, enabling the system to recognize when a small animal has made contact. This optical detection system provides the necessary precision to detect subtle movements caused by small animals, triggering on-demand motor operation and energy savings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback control system where the light receiver continuously monitors the position or rotational state of the brush and sends signals to the control unit. When the brush rotates due to animal contact, the feedback signal triggers the motor to start. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures the motor operates only when needed, saving energy while maintaining high detection sensitivity for small animals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If a rotation sensor is used to detect brush rotation caused by external force, then small animals can trigger the brush, but the system must distinguish between intentional animal interaction and accidental movements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability of small animals to trigger brushVSAvoidaccuracy of triggering mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses feedback control where the rotation sensor continuously monitors brush movement and the control unit analyzes the feedback signals to determine whether rotation was caused by intentional animal interaction or accidental movement. The system can distinguish between sustained rotational patterns (indicating animal desire for brushing) and brief, erratic movements (accidental), thereby maintaining high reliability while enabling small animals to trigger the brush.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 small animals to initiate brushing by applying external force, ensuring energy efficiency by only operating when needed and preventing accidental motor activation.

Implementation Method 1

a rotation sensor arranged to interact with the brush and adapted to sense a rotational movement caused by the externally applied force

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic sensing: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS9565834B2Animal brushing arrangement and method of operating animal brushing arrangement

Publication Date: 2017.02.14 DELAVAL HLDG AB

AI summary

An animal brushing arrangement and method wherein a support part, a brush, an electric motor and a rotation sensor are provided. The electric motor is arranged to rotate the brush about a rotation axis, and the rotation sensor is arranged to detect a rotational movement about the rotation axis that is caused by an external force applied to the brush, such as by an animal, when the motor is not operating, a detection of such a rotational movement being operative to activate the motor.