Chain Disk Corner Wheel with Molded Self-Cleaning Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing chain disk corner housings in livestock feed systems are prone to cracking, have limited visibility for inspection, and suffer from dust and water accumulation, which affects operation and maintenance due to opaque or transparent materials, and self-cleaning wheels are orientation and direction dependent, making installation and repair cumbersome.

Innovation Solution

A bi-directional orientation-independent chain disk corner wheel with a molded design devoid of moving parts, a translucent window for visibility, and reinforcing washers for increased strength, along with a top surface devoid of pockets to prevent material accumulation, facilitating easier assembly, installation, and maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If transparent material is used for corner housing, then visibility for inspection is improved, but structural strength and robustness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility for inspectionVSAvoidstructural strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The corner housing is divided into multiple sections: transparent portions for visibility and opaque portions for structural strength. This segmentation allows each part to fulfill its specific function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the corner housing have different material properties - transparent material where visibility is needed and opaque material where structural strength is needed. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between visibility and strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If opaque material is used for corner housing, then structural strength is improved, but visibility for inspection deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidvisibility for inspection

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If self-cleaning wheel with moving parts is used, then cleaning function is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to feed particulate accumulation in moving parts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveself-cleaning functionVSAvoidoperational reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The moving parts from the self-cleaning wheel are extracted and removed. The wheel is redesigned as a stationary structure with cleaning surfaces that passively redirect feed particulates without any moving components, eliminating the reliability issue while maintaining the cleaning function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The wheel structure itself performs the cleaning function through its geometric design rather than through active moving parts. The stationary cleaning surfaces automatically redirect feed particulates during normal operation without requiring additional mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Stability of the object's composition

If radially extending ribs are added to corner housing exterior, then structural rigidity is improved, but harmful factors worsen due to dust and water accumulation in pockets

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural rigidityVSAvoiddust and water accumulation

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The ribs are redesigned to have smooth, continuous surfaces that prevent pocket formation. The same rib structures that provide structural reinforcement now also serve to eliminate accumulation zones by ensuring feed and moisture can flow smoothly over the surfaces without trapping.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS11046527B2Chain disk corner

Publication Date: 2021.06.29 HOG SLAT INC

AI summary

Disclosed is a chain disk corner. In certain embodiments, the chain disk corner includes a bi-directional orientation independent chain disk corner wheel. In particular, the wheel is molded and devoid of moving parts. In certain embodiments, the chain disk corner includes a window portion. In particular, a bottom housing subassembly includes a bottom body of an opaque material and a hingedly attached window portion. In certain embodiments, the chain disk corner includes a reinforcing washer. In particular, a top washer is attached by injection molding to an interior of the top body, and/or a bottom washer is attached by injection molding to an interior of the bottom body. In certain embodiments, the chain disk corner includes a top surface devoid of pockets. In particular, a top body includes a plurality of ribs positioned at an interior surface of the top body.