Collector Head Feeder Drums for Water Plant Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for removing water plants from a water system are limited by cutter blades that can only collect plants within their driving line, preventing the removal of plants outside this line and requiring the work machine to move continuously to maintain efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A collector head with feeder drums and conveyor/shredder members that can rotate and move in any direction, allowing for the collection of plants from the water surface and beneath, and using a pump to transfer them to land, enabling continuous operation and efficient removal of floating and submerged plants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a cutter blade is placed at the tip of the apparatus, then the apparatus can cut plants on its driving line, but it cannot pull plants outside its driving line to the cutter blade
Solution Approach 1:
The collector head is divided into multiple feeder drums arranged in a circular pattern around the pump, with each drum responsible for collecting plants from specific directional zones. This segmentation allows the system to cover a complete 360-degree collection area, resolving the limitation of a single tip-mounted cutter that could only process plants in its direct driving line.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a linear, one-dimensional cutting approach (cutter blade at the tip) to a multi-dimensional circular collection system. The feeder drums are arranged in a circle around the pump, creating radial collection zones that capture plants from all directions simultaneously, effectively adding spatial dimensionality to the plant collection process.
2Productivity
If the work machine moves continuously to maintain efficiency, then plant removal can be maintained, but the operation cannot be performed stationary
Solution Approach 1:
The feeder drums are designed to rotate autonomously around the pump, actively collecting plants from the water surface and directing them toward the pump intake. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for the work machine to move continuously to maintain collection efficiency, as the rotating drums continuously present fresh collection surfaces to passing plants while the machine can remain stationary.
Solution Approach 2:
The feeder drums rotate continuously in a circular path around the pump, maintaining constant contact with the water surface and continuously collecting plants. This continuous rotational action ensures that plant removal operations can proceed without interruption while the work machine remains stationary, as the drums constantly present new collection surfaces to incoming plants.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the feeder drums are fixed to the body of the collector head, then the structure is stable, but blockages cannot be removed and pump condition cannot be checked
Solution Approach 1:
The feeder drums are mounted on separate, movable support structures that allow them to be independently positioned and rotated. This segmentation from the main body structure enables the drums to be accessed, removed, or repositioned for maintenance purposes while maintaining overall structural stability during operation through the support frame connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The feeder drums are designed with movable mounting mechanisms that allow them to rotate and be positioned dynamically. This dynamic mounting system enables the drums to be turned away from the front of the pump for maintenance access, while maintaining stable operation during normal function through controlled rotational movement around the pump.
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
Enables continuous and efficient removal of water plants from any direction, including floating mats, allowing the work machine to operate stationary or moving, with improved ability to handle blockages and maintain pump condition.
Implementation Method 1
The feeder drums (14) are fixed with bearings to their fastening frame (4) to rotate around shafts (11)
Implementation Method 2
the collected plants are transferred, by means of a pump and transfer pipes included in the collector head, onto land or to a cargo area floating on water
Data Source
AI summary
A method for removing plants (6) or other material existing in water by means of a collector head connected to rest on a work machine moving on land and/or in a water system, whereby the collector head is moved in the method in water in the plant layer, and the collected plants (6) are transferred by means of a pump (13) and transfer pipes (3) included in the collector head either onto land or to a cargo area floating on water, such as a barge. By means of at least two feeder drums (14) placed in the collector head and rotatable on their own shafts (11), water plants are shredded and led in the method from between said feeder drums (14) onto a pump (13) located behind said feeder drums, whereby said drums make use of conveyor/shredder members (8) located one over the other at a distance from each other, at least the outermost tips of which are directed forward in the direction of rotation