Aquaculture Feeder With Segmented Compartments and Rotating Partition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing feeders for fish and shrimp ponds face challenges with energy efficiency, feed clumping, and accurate portioning, particularly in preventing moisture from causing clumps and ensuring uniform distribution of feed.
Innovation Solution
A feeder design with separate upper and lower compartments, utilizing a partition wall with rotating plates and discs to control feed transfer and agitation, along with a spreader motor and agitator to ensure efficient spreading and reduce clumping, powered by a battery for energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If feed is stored in a single compartment, then the device complexity is reduced, but feed clumping occurs due to moisture exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The feed storage system is divided into two separate compartments: an upper feed compartment for storing dry feed and a lower feed compartment for receiving portioned feed. This segmentation prevents moisture exposure and clumping by keeping stored feed separate from the dispensing area, while maintaining relatively simple device structure through the use of a partition wall with rotating plates.
2Productivity
If continuous feed flow is used, then productivity is improved, but feed clumping and uneven distribution occur
Solution Approach 1:
The feed transfer mechanism uses periodic rotation of plates and discs with controlled openings to transfer feed in discrete portions rather than continuous flow. The upper plate, lower plate, and disc rotate in coordination to create periodic openings that allow precise portions of feed to be transferred from the upper compartment to the lower compartment, ensuring accurate portioning while maintaining efficient dispensing rates.
3Device complexity
If simple feed transfer mechanism is used, then device complexity is reduced, but feed distribution uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The feed transfer mechanism employs multiple dynamically rotating components including an upper plate with openings, a lower plate with openings, and a disc with openings, all rotating about a vertical axis. These dynamic elements work in coordination to control feed flow, with the rotation allowing precise control over when and how feed is transferred from the upper to lower compartment, ensuring uniform distribution without requiring complex static structures.
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
The design effectively prevents clumping by separating feed compartments, ensures accurate portioning, and provides uniform feed distribution, reducing energy consumption and maintaining feed quality by minimizing moisture exposure.
Implementation Method 1
feed is transferred to the through-going opening of the disc when the through-going opening of the disc at least partly overlaps with the through-going opening of the upper plate, wherein the feed is transferred to the lower feed compartment
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a feeder (1) for spreading feed, the feeder (1) comprising a housing (10) having an upper feed compartment (11) and a lower feed compartment (12), and a partition wall (16) between the upper feed compartment (11) and the lower feed compartment (12), the partition wall (16) comprising an upper plate (21), a lower plate (22) and a disc (23) with through-going openings (21a-c, 22a-c, 23a-d), the feeder further comprising a spreader motor (50), a rotatable spreader plate (54), a spreader shaft (52) between and connected to the spreader motor (50) and to the rotatable spreader plate (54), the spreader shaft (52) extending at least partly through the lower feed compartment (12) and a lower agitator (60) being positioned inside the lower feed compartment (12) and being connected to and extending from the spreader shaft (52) such that when the spreader shaft (52) is rotated the lower agitator (60) will sweep around the second axis (A2) inside the lower feed compartment (12).