Grain Sweep Conveyor With Segmented Paddle And Stepped Hood
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional grain sweeps, such as bin paddle sweeps, often fail to convey all grains due to paddles not following the intended path and side walls not reaching the floor, resulting in grain residue being missed.
Innovation Solution
A grain sweep design with an elongated frame, a hood having a bottom wall that extends from one side wall and paddles with a stepped profile, where every second or third paddle has a part parallel to the floor, and a drive wheel with rubber floor-contacting parts to improve path control and reduce friction, ensuring grains are pushed towards the center.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the side wall reaches down to the floor to prevent grain from passing under, then grain conveyance completeness is improved, but friction and wear increase
Solution Approach 1:
The side wall is designed with different properties in different regions: the upper portion is long to prevent grain passage, while the lower portion is short to reduce friction contact with the floor. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between complete grain conveyance and reduced wear.
2Productivity
If the paddle edge is continuous to push grain effectively, then grain conveyance efficiency is improved, but friction against the floor increases
Solution Approach 1:
The paddle edge is segmented into two distinct parts: an upper continuous portion for effective grain pushing, and a lower discontinuous portion with gaps to minimize friction contact with the floor. This segmentation allows the paddle to maintain conveyance efficiency while reducing harmful friction.
3Quantity of substance
If the conveyor is made longer to reach all grain, then grain collection completeness is improved, but paddle path control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of extending the conveyor length in one dimension, the side wall is extended vertically in another dimension to reach down to the floor. This dimensional change allows complete grain collection without increasing the horizontal conveyor length, thereby maintaining paddle path control.
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 design enhances grain conveyance efficiency by controlling paddle movement and reducing friction, ensuring more grains are collected and minimizing noise, while extending the conveyor's operational life.
Implementation Method 1
a drive wheel with rubber floor-contacting parts to improve path control and reduce friction
Data Source
AI summary
A grain sweep (1) for use on a floor comprises an elongated frame, said frame comprises an elongated hood (2) comprising a top panel (3) and first (4) and second (5) side walls. It further comprises a first (6) and a second wheel rotatably attached to said elongated frame adjacent a first and a second end of said elongated frame, respectively, a drive means (7) passing about said first (6) and second wheels, and a plurality of spaced apart paddles (8) arranged on said drive means (7). The hood (2) further comprises one bottom wall (9) extending from one of said side walls. At least one paddle (10) comprises a side with one part (11) adjacent the bottom wall and parallel with the floor and one part (12) with corresponding shape to the bottom wall (9).