Movable Deflector Door Seal for Material Spreader
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional spreader apparatuses face issues with material clinging to the discharge system and falling off during travel, leading to unwanted discharge into the environment when not in operation, lacking precise control over spread pattern and distance.
Innovation Solution
A deflector door system with a positioning device, such as a hydraulic cylinder, that can be controlled to cover and open the discharge port, creating a seal to prevent material exit during travel and allowing controlled deflection of discharged material for accurate spread pattern and distance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a material deflector is provided near the discharge outlet to control the spread pattern, then the spread pattern and point of deposition can be controlled, but material may cling to the deflector and fall off during traveling, causing unwanted discharge into the environment
Solution Approach 1:
The deflector is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to change position between a deflection mode during spreading operations and a retracted mode during traveling. This dynamic adjustment prevents material from clinging to the deflector during travel while maintaining spread pattern control during operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The deflector is retracted to a predetermined position before traveling begins, preventing material from accumulating on the deflector surface in advance. This preliminary action ensures that no material falls off during transportation to the spreading location.
2Ease of operation
If the spreader apparatus travels to and from the location where material is spread, then the apparatus can deliver material to the desired area, but material clinging to the discharge system may fall off during traveling and exit through the discharge port
Solution Approach 1:
The deflector's position is dynamically adjusted based on the operational state of the spreader. During traveling, the deflector is retracted to prevent material loss, while during spreading operations, it is positioned to control material distribution. This dynamic positioning resolves the conflict between material delivery capability and material loss prevention.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If a deflector door is used to cover the discharge port, then material can be prevented from exiting during traveling, but the device complexity increases with positioning devices and controllers
Solution Approach 1:
The deflector door serves multiple functions: it acts as a material deflector during spreading operations and as a closure door during traveling. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining effective material discharge prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The deflector and door functions are merged into a single component. The deflector door combines the material deflection capability with the discharge port closure function, simplifying the system architecture while achieving both material spread control and travel-time prevention.
Data Source
AI summary
A spreading apparatus for spreading material onto a target area is disclosed. The spreading apparatus includes a container for the material, a discharge unit which discharges the material, a deflector door disposed on a discharge port of the discharge unit, a positioning device which positions the deflector door and a controller configured to control the deflector door so that the deflector door is positioned between a first closed position and a second open position. The material is substantially prevented from exiting through the discharge port when the deflector door is in the first position. The deflector door may further be positioned at a position between the first closed position and second open position to control a distance of the material discharged from the discharge port.