Divided Compartment Hopper with Helicoid Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mixing and distributing hoppers for animal feed require complex mechanisms to mix and distribute materials, often involving oversized construction and the need for motors to open and close side hatches, which complicates operation and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
A hopper design with a divided compartment system, utilizing a helicoid mixing and transfer member and an emptying member on a shared shaft, allowing for separate functions of mixing and unloading without side openings, facilitated by a discharge chute and pallets that rotate to lift and discharge material, enabling efficient mixing and distribution with a simple rotary drive mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single compartment hopper with side hatch and motor-operated opening is used, then material distribution can be achieved, but device complexity and construction cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hopper is divided into two compartments: a first compartment for mixing bulk material and a second compartment for emptying. This segmentation allows separate optimization of mixing and discharge functions, eliminating the need for complex motor-operated side hatches while maintaining operational effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The discharge function is extracted from the main hopper body by creating a separate second compartment dedicated to emptying. This extracted compartment can be efficiently emptied through a bottom discharge port without requiring side openings or hatch mechanisms in the main structure.
2Productivity
If a single compartment hopper with mixing blades and side hatch is used, then material mixing can be achieved, but the hatch must be oversized and requires motor operation
Solution Approach 1:
By separating mixing and emptying functions into different compartments, the mixing blades operate in the first compartment without needing to access or open any hatches. The second compartment handles discharge separately through bottom discharge, eliminating the need for oversized motor-operated side hatches.
3Device complexity
If a helicoid mixing member is used for both mixing and emptying in one compartment, then device simplicity is improved, but functional efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The helicoid mixing member is segmented into two functional zones: in the first compartment it performs mixing action, and in the second compartment it performs emptying action. This segmentation allows the same simple mechanism to achieve high efficiency in both mixing and emptying functions by optimizing its operation in each dedicated space.
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
The hopper effectively mixes and distributes bulk materials like cereals without the need for side openings or motor-operated hatches, ensuring efficient operation and reduced complexity, allowing for easy use in both mobile and stationary applications.
Implementation Method 1
a helicoid mixing and transfer member (400) arranged in the first compartment (C1), said member being rotatable close to the bottom wall (336) and which, in a direction of rotation “-” of its axis, implements the mixing of the material in the first compartment (C1) and, in its other direction of rotation “+” implements, in particular, the transfer of the material into the second compartment (C2) through said passage (Ps)
Implementation Method 2
the emptying member (500) being arranged in the second compartment (C2), the emptying member comprising vanes (Pt) designed to, in said other same direction of rotation “+” of its axis, discharge through the discharge orifice (361), the material contained in the second compartment (C2)
Implementation Method 3
the partition wall (Sp) being traversed in its lower part by a passage (Ps) allowing the transfer of the material between the two compartments (C1, C2)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a mixing-discharging hopper (300) comprising a bin (330) provided with a bottom wall (336), a member for emptying the hopper contents. According to the invention, the bin (330) is divided into two compartments by a dividing wall (Sp), the first compartment (C1) being intended for mixing loose material which the compartment can contain, and the second compartment (C2) being intended for emptying the hopper. The hopper includes a mixing and transfer member (400) arranged in the first compartment (C1), the emptying member (500) being arranged in the second compartment (C2). The lower portion of the dividing wall (Sp) is provided with a through-channel (Ps), allowing material to be transferred between the two compartments (C1 and C2), and a discharge port (361) extends through the second compartment (C2). The mixing and transfer member (400) comprises a helical element (Hce) which can rotate close to the bottom wall (336) and which, in one direction of rotation ("-") about the axis, mixes the material in the first compartment (C1) and which, in the other direction of rotation ("+") about the axis, transfers, in particular, the material into the second compartment (C2) through the aforementioned channel (Ps). The emptying member (500) comprising blades (Pt) designed to, in the second direction of rotation ("+") about the axis, discharge the material contained in the second compartment (C2) through the discharge port (361).