Deflector Assembly for Agricultural Agitator Force Reduction

Solution Overview

Problem

Agricultural seeding implements face performance reduction due to the weight of particulate materials like seeds and fertilizers, which exert force on components, increasing resistance and reducing efficiency in distributing the materials across the field.

Innovation Solution

An agitating system with a deflector assembly positioned laterally offset from the center axis of the agitator, which directs particulate material around the agitator, reducing the force exerted on it and facilitating the movement of clumped material through the system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the storage tank is filled with particulate material to increase distribution capacity, then the quantity of material available for distribution increases, but the weight of the material exerts increased force on the agitator, increasing rotational resistance and energy consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequantity of particulate materialVSAvoidenergy consumption of agitator

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful force exerted by particulate material on the agitator by introducing a deflector that redirects the material flow. The deflector removes the direct contact between the material weight and the agitator, allowing the agitator to rotate with reduced resistance while the storage tank remains fully loaded.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The deflector acts as an intermediary element between the particulate material and the agitator. It mediates the interaction by redirecting the material flow around the agitator, preventing the material weight from directly increasing the rotational resistance while still allowing the material to be distributed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If the storage tank is filled with particulate material to increase distribution capacity, then the quantity of material available for distribution increases, but the weight of the material exerts increased force on the agitator, increasing rotational resistance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequantity of particulate materialVSAvoidrotational resistance on agitator

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful force exerted by particulate material on the agitator by introducing a deflector that redirects the material flow. The deflector removes the direct contact between the material weight and the agitator, allowing the agitator to rotate with reduced resistance while the storage tank remains fully loaded.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The deflector acts as an intermediary element between the particulate material and the agitator. It mediates the interaction by redirecting the material flow around the agitator, preventing the material weight from directly increasing the rotational resistance while still allowing the material to be distributed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the agitator is positioned on the center axis to maintain symmetry, then the structural stability is improved, but the particulate material builds up on one side of the agitator, increasing rotational resistance and reducing efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural symmetry of agitator systemVSAvoiddistribution efficiency of particulate material

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the material buildup problem by introducing a deflector that redirects the particulate material flow. The deflector removes the material from the path that would cause asymmetric buildup on the agitator, maintaining both symmetry and efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The deflector is positioned laterally offset from the center axis, creating an asymmetric flow pattern that dynamically balances the material distribution. This dynamic arrangement prevents material buildup on one side while maintaining the overall structural symmetry of the system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11877529B2Deflector of an agricultural agitation system

Publication Date: 2024.01.23 CNH IND CANADA

AI summary

An agitating system includes an agitator disposed within a sub-hopper of the agitating system. The agitator is configured to promote movement of the particulate material through the sub-hopper. The agitating system also includes a deflector assembly configured to movably couple to a bracket at a position laterally offset from a center axis of the agitator. The deflector assembly includes a deflector that establishes a space between the deflector and the agitator, and the deflector is configured to block a portion of the particulate material from exerting a force onto the agitator as the particulate material flows through the sub-hopper.