Granular Material Separator with Dynamic Gap Design to Reduce Clogging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing seed drills face challenges in effectively separating seeds from air streams without clogging due to impurities like seed coats, dust, and damaged seeds, which affects operating reliability.

Innovation Solution

A separator design with adjustable gap widths between parts that extend only along the material flow, allowing air to pass while preventing granular material from getting stuck, and a base part with a radially extending spacer portion to reduce clogging, facilitating production through casting or injection molding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the separator gap is made narrow to effectively separate seed from air stream, then separation effectiveness is improved, but the risk of clogging by impurities increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation effectivenessVSAvoidclogging by impurities

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The separator gap transitions from a narrow closed configuration at the inlet to an increasingly open configuration along the material flow direction. This dynamic variation in gap width allows effective separation at the inlet while preventing clogging downstream as the gap progressively opens to allow trapped impurities to escape.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections of the separator have different gap widths tailored to their specific functions: the inlet region has narrow gaps for effective separation, while downstream regions have progressively wider gaps to prevent and relieve clogging. This local differentiation optimizes both separation effectiveness and anti-clogging performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If separator parts extend along the material flow to provide separation, then separation capacity is improved, but material can get stuck in the gap impairing operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation capacityVSAvoidmaterial flow continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The separator parts are designed with varying orientations along the material flow. At the inlet, separator parts extend perpendicular to the flow for maximum separation. Downstream, the separator parts progressively tilt and eventually extend parallel to the flow direction, creating an expanding gap that prevents material accumulation and facilitates continuous operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If the separator gap is narrow for effective separation, then air-stream separation is improved, but operating reliability decreases due to clogging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation precisionVSAvoidoperating reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The separator implements a dynamic gap width variation along the material flow direction. The gap starts narrow at the inlet for precise separation of granular material from air stream, then progressively opens downstream to prevent and relieve clogging by impurities, thereby maintaining operating reliability while preserving separation precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the separator have locally optimized gap widths: narrow gaps at the inlet for high separation precision, and progressively wider gaps downstream for reliable operation. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between precision and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 separator effectively separates seeds from air streams, reducing the risk of clogging and ensuring high operating reliability by allowing stuck material to displace along the flow, thus maintaining efficient seed distribution in agricultural implements.

Implementation Method 1

a separator gap, which is sufficiently narrow to allow air, but not the granular material, to pass through it

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical filtration through size-selective gaps: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 2

material which gets stuck in the separator gap is allowed to leave this by means of displacement principally along the material flow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid-driven particle transport: Advection

Data Source

PatentUS9901023B2Separator and method of separating granular material in an agricultural implement

Publication Date: 2018.02.27 VAEDERSTAD HOLDING AB

AI summary

A separator for separating granular material, such as seed, fertilizer or pesticide, from a material-laden airflow (FI) includes a separator zone (Z) having an inlet (11) for a material-laden airflow, a material outlet (13) and an air outlet (12, 12′), and at least two separator parts (15, 15′), which extend only substantially along a material flow (FM) in the separator zone (Z) and between which is formed a separator gap (12, 12′), which is sufficiently narrow to allow air, but not the granular material, to pass through it. At the material outlet (13), the separator gap (12, 12′) is at least partially open, viewed in a direction which is substantially parallel with the material flow (FM), so that material which gets stuck in the separator gap (12, 12′) is allowed to leave this by means of displacement principally along the material flow (FM).