Curtain machine having sealed control enclosure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional curtain machines are exposed to high temperatures and humidity in livestock facilities, leading to accelerated corrosion of metal components and reduced machine lifespan.
Innovation Solution
A sealed control enclosure is integrated into the curtain machine, housing the control circuit and mechanical limit switch sub-assembly to create a moisture-impermeable environment, protecting electrical components from the internal and external environments, while a motorized threaded member moves a load block to actuate the curtain mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If electrical components are exposed to the machine interior environment for direct actuation, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates due to corrosion from high temperature and humidity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the machine into two distinct environmental zones: a sealed control enclosure interior housing electrical components (control circuit, limit switch) and an unsealed machine interior housing mechanical components (motor, threaded member, load block). This segmentation isolates sensitive electrical components from the harsh environment while maintaining functional integration through controlled interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealed control enclosure acts as an intermediary barrier between the harsh machine interior environment and the sensitive electrical components. It provides environmental protection while allowing mechanical interaction through the limit switch actuator that extends through the enclosure wall, enabling the load block to trigger the limit switch without direct exposure of electrical components to the external environment.
2Reliability
If a sealed control enclosure is introduced to protect electrical components, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The machine is segmented into protected and unprotected zones, with the sealed control enclosure forming a distinct protected space for electrical components. This segmentation provides targeted protection only where needed, rather than enclosing the entire machine, thus balancing reliability improvement with acceptable complexity increase.
Solution Approach 2:
Sensitive electrical components (control circuit and limit switch) are extracted from the harsh machine interior environment and placed inside the sealed control enclosure. This extraction isolates vulnerable components from corrosive conditions while leaving the mechanical actuation system exposed and functional in the machine interior.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If electrical components are sealed in an enclosure, then the resistance to environmental factors is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to reduced accessibility
Solution Approach 1:
The control enclosure is designed as a separable unit that can be accessed independently from the rest of the machine. This segmentation allows maintenance personnel to open and service electrical components without disassembling the entire machine, providing targeted accessibility to the enclosed zone while maintaining environmental protection during normal operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A curtain machine has a sealed control enclosure. The control enclosure, disposed in a machine interior of a machine housing, forms an enclosure interior and is configured to form a moisture impermeable seal separating the environment of the control enclosure from the environment of the machine interior and the external environment of the curtain machine. A motorized threaded member is configured to move a load block within the machine interior, for example to actuate a cable-based curtain mechanism, with both the load block and threaded member disposed outside the enclosure interior. The enclosure interior of the control enclosure includes a control circuit configured to operate the motor, and a mechanical limit switch configured to be mechanically actuated by the load block to stop the motor responsive to the load block moving along the threaded member beyond a predetermined threshold.