Expandable Manure Tank for Highway Transport Compliance

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Solution Overview

Problem

The capacity of traditional mobile manure tanks is limited by permissible dimensions for public highway transport, restricting the amount of manure that can be carried and applied to farmland, leading to frequent refilling and increased time and effort in manuring processes.

Innovation Solution

An expandable manure tank system that can temporarily increase storage capacity by expanding its dimensions beyond highway transport limits, allowing for greater manure storage and reduced dimensions for transport, enabling larger areas to be manured without intermediate refilling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the manure tank dimensions are increased to hold more manure, then the storage capacity is improved, but the dimensions exceed permissible limits for public highway transport

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanure storage capacityVSAvoidmanure tank dimensions
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The manure tank is designed with an expandable structure that can dynamically change its volume. The tank can be expanded to a first volume when stationary at the manuring location to maximize storage capacity, and contracted to a second, smaller volume for transport on public highways. This dynamic volume adjustment allows the tank to satisfy both the large storage requirement and the transport dimension constraints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The expandable manure tank employs a nested structure where the tank wall can be folded or collapsed into a compact configuration. When not in use, the expanded tank structure can be nested within itself or against the fixed frame, reducing its overall dimensions to comply with highway transport regulations while maintaining full capacity when deployed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Length of moving object

If the manure tank dimensions are reduced to comply with highway transport, then the transport compliance is improved, but the storage capacity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanure tank dimensionsVSAvoidmanure storage capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The manure tank transitions from a static dimension to a dynamic one, allowing it to adapt its volume based on operational requirements. During transport, the tank maintains a compact, compliant size, but when stationary at the manuring location, it can be expanded to provide sufficient storage capacity for extended manuring operations without frequent refilling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of time

If a larger manure tank is used to increase storage capacity, then the frequency of refilling is reduced, but the device dimensions exceed transport limits

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime for refilling operationsVSAvoidmanure tank dimensions
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By implementing an expandable tank that can be inflated or extended when stationary, the system provides large storage capacity during manuring operations, reducing the need for frequent refilling. The same tank then contracts to a compact form for transport, ensuring compliance with highway dimension limits. This dynamic adjustment eliminates the trade-off between storage capacity and transport compliance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3335537B1Mobile manure tank device and mobile manure spreader provided with a manure tank device
Publication Date: 2024.09.11 VREDO BEHEER
  • EP3335537B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3335537B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3335537B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

The present invention relates to a mobile manure tank device, particularly a mobile manure tank device comprising a manure tank which is arranged on a mobile frame or which is configured to be arranged on a mobile frame. The present invention also relates to a mobile device for manuring comprising a mobile manure tank device according to the invention and a device for manuring. The present invention relates particularly to a mobile manure tank device comprising an expandable manure tank.