Articulating Arm Silo Face Control for Stable Negative Rake Angle

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Bunker silos with silage faces often develop unstable overhangs, posing safety risks due to compression and uneven removal, leading to potential collapse during silage extraction.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for forming a negative rake angle on the silo face using an articulating arm with sensors and a controller to ensure stable silage removal, preventing overhangs and collapses by maintaining a controlled slope during extraction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If silage is removed from the bunker silo, then productivity is improved, but unstable overhangs form on the silo face leading to safety risks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesilage removal efficiencyVSAvoidsilo face stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses sensors (optical, ultrasonic, or laser) to continuously detect the silo face profile and provides feedback to the controller, which automatically adjusts the defacer arm position and removal rate to maintain a stable negative rake angle, preventing overhang formation while maximizing removal efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The defacer arm is made dynamically adjustable through automated position control that continuously adapts the arm's angle and position based on real-time silo face conditions, allowing the system to maintain optimal negative rake angle throughout the removal process rather than using a fixed configuration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If automatic control systems are implemented, then silo face stability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesilo face stabilityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual mechanical control with automated electronic control using sensors and a controller that automatically adjusts the defacer arm position based on sensor feedback, reducing the need for complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms while improving stability control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The control system is designed to autonomously monitor silo face conditions through sensors and automatically adjust removal parameters without requiring constant operator intervention, making the complex control functions operate independently once initialized

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3903564B1Methods for automatic control of bulk material removal

Publication Date: 2023.09.27 DEERE & CO

Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5

AI summary

Systems and method for forming a stable silo face (202, 302, 410) in bulk material are disclosed. Particularly, systems and methods for forming a negative rake angle in a silo face (202, 302, 410) of bulk silage are disclosed. Rotation of an articulated arm (e.g., raising and lowering), altering a length of the articulated arm (e.g., extension or retraction), and movement of a machine (204, 308) relative to the silo face (202, 302, 410) (towards and away from) may be automatically controlled to form the negative rake angle. Different implementations contemplate automated control of all or fewer than all of these operations.