Elastic Feed Chain Drive Wheel for Long Livestock Feed Lines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drive wheels for dry-feeding livestock feeding systems are not cost-effective and have limited capacity, leading to increased stress on the gear rim and tooth elements, which results in vibration, noise, and wear, making it difficult to efficiently convey feed along long feed lines.
Innovation Solution
A drive wheel with an elastic gear rim material and tooth elements that deform under stress, allowing for a larger number of baffle disks to engage with tooth elements, reducing vibration and noise, and enabling the transmission of greater drive output, thus accommodating longer feed lines and larger quantities of feed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid gear rim is used in the drive wheel, then the structural strength is maintained, but the tooth elements experience increased stress and wear under high load conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The gear rim is constructed as a composite structure combining a rigid base wheel with an elastic gear rim material. This composite design allows the rigid base to provide structural strength while the elastic material layer absorbs stress and reduces wear on tooth elements during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic gear rim material is applied specifically to the tooth elements and external circumferential face where contact with baffle disks occurs, while the base wheel maintains its rigid structure. This localized application of different material properties optimizes both durability at contact points and overall structural strength.
2Productivity
If more baffle disks engage with tooth elements to increase drive output, then the capacity for longer feed lines is improved, but the stress and vibration on the gear rim increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic gear rim material changes its physical parameters under stress, allowing dynamic deformation of the tooth elements. This enables the gear rim to adapt to varying load conditions, accommodating multiple engaged baffle disks while dissipating stress through elastic deformation rather than rigid transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic material provides beforehand cushioning by absorbing and dampening stress before it can propagate through the rigid base wheel structure. This cushioning effect reduces vibration and noise while enabling higher drive output through increased baffle disk engagement.
3Device complexity
If conventional drive wheels are used, then the system is simple and cost-effective, but they have limited capacity for long feed lines and generate more noise and wear
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the material parameter of the gear rim from rigid to elastic, which fundamentally alters the performance characteristics. This single parameter change enables the drive wheel to handle longer feed lines with higher capacity while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that builds upon conventional designs.
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 elastic gear rim material reduces wear and noise pollution, enhances the well-being of animals, and provides cost advantages by allowing longer feed chains to be driven and larger quantities of feed to be conveyed, while minimizing the 'beating' of the feed chain, thus improving the overall efficiency and durability of the feeding system.
Implementation Method 1
the gear rim comprises an elastic gear rim material or is composed thereof... each tooth element has two tooth tips and one chain clearance that is disposed between the two tooth tips... allowing for a larger number of baffle disks to engage with tooth elements, reducing vibration and noise
Data Source
AI summary
A drive wheel for driving a feed chain for dry-feeding livestock includes a base wheel having an axial passage for receiving a drive shaft and a gear rim having a toothed external circumferential face, wherein the external circumferential face has a multiplicity of tooth elements. Each tooth element has two tooth tips and one chain clearance disposed between the two tooth tips. At least the gear rim composed of an elastic material.