Flexible Scraping Element With Convex Rolling Body

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing manure-removal vehicles face challenges in extending the life of their scraping elements due to high stress during operation, especially when used on sealed animal-shed floors where manure accumulation and suction power are inconsistent, leading to inefficient manure collection and potential clogging.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a flexible, strip-shaped scraping element with a rolling body that contacts the scraping element, featuring a convexly rounded rolling surface, to reduce stress and improve durability, along with a plate with a manure passage opening and a suction nozzle element for efficient manure collection and easy maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a rigid scraping element is used to scrape manure from sealed floors, then scraping effectiveness is improved, but the stress on the scraping element increases leading to reduced durability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescraping effectivenessVSAvoidscraping element durability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a flexible scraping element made of elastomeric material instead of rigid materials. This flexible strip can conform to the floor surface and absorb operational stresses through elastic deformation, maintaining scraping effectiveness while preventing permanent damage and extending service life.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the material parameter from rigid to elastomeric, allowing the scraping element to dynamically adapt its stiffness. The elastomeric material provides sufficient rigidity for effective scraping while maintaining flexibility to withstand repeated stress cycles without failure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Strength

If the scraping element is made more durable through rigid materials, then stress resistance is improved, but the ability to adapt to floor variations and maintain consistent contact is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestress resistanceVSAvoidfloor surface adaptation
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The elastomeric scraping element inherently adapts to floor variations through its flexibility, maintaining consistent contact pressure across uneven surfaces while the material's toughness provides resistance to stress and damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Ease of manufacture

If the scraping element design is simplified for ease of manufacture, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but the ability to facilitate easy maintenance and replacement is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidmaintenance accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The scraping element is designed as a separate, replaceable component that can be easily removed and replaced without disassembling the entire vehicle. This modular approach simplifies manufacturing while enabling quick maintenance and replacement of worn scraping elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 extends the life of the scraping element by reducing stress during operation, ensures consistent manure collection on sealed floors, and facilitates easy maintenance and replacement of components, enhancing the overall efficiency and reliability of the manure-removal process.

Implementation Method 1

A vacuum pump which is connected to the control device is provided in order to apply a partial vacuum to the tank via the air discharge

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVacuum: Vacuum

Implementation Method 2

a rolling body, wherein the rolling body extends on a side of the scraping element turned away from the manure-storage space in order to be in contact with the scraping element at least while scraping the manure together, and wherein the rolling body, on the side facing the scraping element, has a rolling surface which is convexly rounded towards the scraping element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRolling: Roller

Data Source

PatentEP3364749B1Manure removal vehicle for removing manure from an animal shed floor
Publication Date: 2022.09.28 LELY PATENT NV
  • EP3364749B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3364749B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3364749B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A wheeled manure-removal vehicle for removing manure from an animal-shed floor comprises a scraper assembly (13, 26, 27) for scraping the manure together into a manure-storage space (14) by scraping across the animal-shed floor, wherein the scraper assembly (13, 26, 27) comprises a flexible, strip-shaped scraping element (13) which is partly arranged around the manure-storage space (14) and a rolling body (26). The rolling body (26) extends on a side of the scraping element (13) which faces away from the manure-storage space (14) in order to be in contact with the scraping element (13) at least while scraping the manure together, and has, on the side facing the scraping element (13), a rolling surface (35) which is convexly rounded towards the scraping element (13). The use of the rolling body (26) for contact with the scraping element (13) has an advantageous effect on the life of the scraping element (13) on the vehicle (1).