Barn Manure Robot Wireless Charging to Prevent Sparking and Soiling

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing autonomous manure removing vehicles in barns face challenges with slow charging due to limited charging currents, which increases the time required to charge the battery system, thereby reducing the vehicle's operational capacity for manure removal, and are prone to soiling and corrosion, affecting reliability.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a wireless charging system using a primary coil at the charging station and a secondary coil on the manure removing vehicle, allowing for efficient energy transfer without sparking risks, and positioning the secondary coil on the vehicle's top side to minimize soiling and corrosion, enabling faster charging and increased operational time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If limited charging current is used to prevent electric sparks, then safety is improved, but charging time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidcharging time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical contact-based charging system with a wireless electromagnetic induction charging system. The transmitting body with primary coil and receiving body with secondary coil enable contactless power transfer, eliminating the risk of electric sparks while allowing higher charging currents. This resolves the contradiction by substituting the physical contact mechanism with an electromagnetic field-based mechanism that inherently prevents sparking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If charging strips are placed on the outside of the vehicle, then charging functionality is achieved, but soiling and corrosion increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging functionalityVSAvoidsoiling and corrosion

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical contact-based charging strips with a wireless electromagnetic induction system. The transmitting body and receiving body with coils enable power transfer without physical contact, eliminating the soiling and corrosion issues associated with external charging strips while maintaining charging functionality. The receiving body can be positioned on the vehicle without exposure to barn environment contaminants.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If contact-based charging is used, then charging efficiency is limited, but safety from sparking is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging efficiencyVSAvoidsafety from sparking

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the contact-based charging system with wireless electromagnetic induction charging. The primary coil in the transmitting body and secondary coil in the receiving body create magnetic coupling for power transfer without physical contact. This enables both high charging efficiency through optimized electromagnetic coupling and complete safety from electric sparks by eliminating conductive contact between charging components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 faster battery charging, reducing the time spent on charging and increasing the vehicle's manure removal capacity while ensuring reliability by preventing sparking and minimizing soiling and corrosion risks.

Implementation Method 1

wireless transfer of electrical energy from the primary coil (25) of the transmitting body (24) to the secondary coil (27) of the receiving body (26) for wireless charging of the battery system (11)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS20240276945A1System and method for removing manure from a floor in a barn for animals, and, in combination, a barn for keeping animals and a system of this type

Publication Date: 2024.08.22 LELY PATENT NV

AI summary

A system for removing manure from a floor in a barn for animals, such as cows, includes an autonomous manure removing vehicle which is provided with a drive system. The drive system includes at least one electric drive motor. An electronic control system is connected to the drive system for control thereof. A battery system for storing electrical energy is connected to the drive system and the control system. The system includes a charging station for charging the battery system of the manure removing vehicle. The charging station includes a transmitting body with a primary coil. The manure removing vehicle includes a receiving body with a secondary coil. The receiving body is arranged on a top side of the manure removing vehicle. The manure removing vehicle is maneuverable with respect to the transmitting body of the charging station in such a way that the primary coil of the transmitting body and the secondary coil of the receiving body are mutually aligned in order to wirelessly transfer electrical energy from the primary coil to the secondary coil for wireless charging of the battery system of the manure removing vehicle.