Feed Displacement Vehicle With Brush Auger for Sticky Feed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual repositioning and remixing of feed on a dairy barn feed table is labor-intensive and inefficient, particularly with feeds like fresh grass that stick to the table and fine constituents that are difficult to displace with traditional helical blade augers.
Innovation Solution
A feed displacement vehicle equipped with a rotatable auger featuring a helical blade and a brush element that synergistically displaces and brushes the feed, ensuring effective handling of various feed types, including fresh grass and fine constituents, by attaching the brush element to the helical blade for enhanced displacement and remixing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional helical blade auger is used to displace feed, then the displacement of bulk feed is effective, but feed like fresh grass that sticks to the table and fine constituents are difficult to displace
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a helical blade auger with a brush element into a single integrated displacement vehicle. The brush element is attached to the auger assembly and works in conjunction with the helical blade to displace feed. This merging of two different displacement mechanisms (mechanical pushing by the blade and brushing by the brush element) enables the system to handle both bulk feed and sticky/feed-like fresh grass effectively, resolving the contradiction between versatility and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The brush element acts as an intermediary mechanism between the auger and the feed. Instead of relying solely on the helical blade to push all feed types, the brush element serves as a mediator that specifically addresses the displacement of sticky feed and fine constituents by brushing them along the feed table. This intermediary component enables the system to overcome the limitations of the helical blade alone when dealing with difficult-to-move feed materials.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual repositioning and remixing of feed is performed, then all feed types can be handled flexibly, but the work is labor-intensive and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service automated displacement system that operates without continuous manual intervention. The auger vehicle autonomously travels along the feed table and uses its rotating helical blade and brush element to automatically displace and remix feed. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for manual repositioning while maintaining the flexibility to handle different feed types, thereby resolving the contradiction between adaptability and time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical system of feeding and remixing with an automated mechanical system consisting of the auger vehicle with helical blade and brush element. This substitution of manual operation with an automated mechanical device maintains the flexibility to handle various feed types while dramatically reducing the time and labor required for feed displacement operations.
3Device complexity
If only a helical blade is used for feed displacement, then the structure is simple, but traction is reduced when moving over sticky feed like fresh grass
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the helical blade auger with a brush element into an integrated system. The brush element is attached to the auger assembly and rotates alongside the helical blade. This combination provides both the structural simplicity of a single auger mechanism and the enhanced traction needed to move over sticky feed, as the brush element engages with the feed table surface to prevent wheel slippage while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
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 solution improves feed handling by efficiently displacing and remixing feed, reducing manual labor, enhancing traction, and ensuring all feed components are accessible to animals, thereby increasing operational efficiency and reducing residue on the feed table.
Implementation Method 1
a rotatable auger having an axis of rotation and including at least one helical blade for displacing feed in a direction substantially along the axis of rotation
Implementation Method 2
The helical blade is provided with a brush element arranged such that feed is displaced (in other words brushed) on the feed table by the brush element during operation
Data Source
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AI summary
A feed displacement vehicle (1) for displacing feed on a feed table (2), comprising a rotatable auger (3) having an axis of rotation (R) and including at least one helical blade (4, 4') for displacing feed in a direction substantially along the axis of rotation. The helical blade is provided with a brush element (5) arranged such that feed is displaced on the feed table by 5 the brush element during operation.