Bin Sweep Tilted Paddle Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bin sweep systems face challenges with paddle configurations, where vertically oriented paddles struggle with support and eccentric weight loading, while horizontally oriented paddles fail to maintain contact with the bin floor at the discharge end, leading to inefficient particulate material movement.
Innovation Solution
A bin sweep system with a tilted paddle movement plane that is neither vertically nor horizontally oriented, allowing paddles to lift away from the bin floor at the discharge end and enabling vertical support close to the center of gravity, utilizing an endless loop of interconnected paddles with a specific orientation to move particulate material effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If vertically oriented paddles are used, then support structure is simplified, but eccentric weight loading occurs and particle retraction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from vertical or horizontal paddle orientations to a tilted orientation (neither purely vertical nor horizontal). This dimensional change allows the paddles to simultaneously achieve support close to the center of gravity and maintain contact with the bin floor, eliminating both eccentric loading and particle retraction issues
2Reliability
If horizontally oriented paddles are used, then particle contact is maintained, but paddles fail to lift away at discharge end causing particle retraction
Solution Approach 1:
By tilting the paddle orientation to neither purely horizontal nor vertical, the invention enables paddles to maintain floor contact during the approach phase while naturally lifting away at the discharge end, thus preventing particle retraction and improving movement efficiency
3Device complexity
If vertically oriented paddles are used, then structure is simpler, but center of gravity is far from support point causing instability
Solution Approach 1:
The tilted paddle orientation repositions the center of gravity closer to the support point by changing the spatial arrangement from vertical to an intermediate angle, thereby improving stability without significantly increasing structural complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A bin sweep system for moving particulate material in a bin may comprise an elongated sweep apparatus having a particulate sweep structure configured to move particulate material on the floor beneath the sweep apparatus toward one end of the elongated sweep apparatus. The particulate sweep structure may include a plurality of interconnected paddles movable in a succession on a path along at least a portion of a length of the sweep apparatus and an endless loop member on which the paddles of the plurality of paddles are mounted at spaced locations for moving the paddles along the path. The path of the paddles on the endless loop may generally lie in a movement plane, and an orientation of the movement plane may be tilted such that the movement plane is not in a vertical orientation and not in a horizontal orientation.