Foldable Hay Bale Containment Frame for Airflow and Dry Storage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current bale-containment devices fail to effectively contain hay bales, allowing them to spread and degrade, and do not allow for airflow to keep the bale dry and fresh, while also being difficult to transport and deploy.
Innovation Solution
A corrosion-resistant hay-bale-containment device with a frame, legs, and a back-stop frame that elevates the bale above the ground, allowing airflow and featuring an articulated bed section with adjustable angles and foldable components for easy transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bales are placed directly on the ground or simple pallets, then the device is simple and easy to manufacture, but the bale cannot be contained and spreads/degrades on the surrounding ground
Solution Approach 1:
The containment device is divided into modular components including a base frame, vertical stanchions, and horizontal cross-members that can be assembled together to form the containment structure. This segmentation allows the device to provide effective bale containment while maintaining ease of assembly and disassembly for transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The containment device serves multiple functions: it contains the bale to prevent spreading, elevates the bale off the ground to improve airflow, and provides a stable platform for bale placement. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by achieving reliable containment without requiring multiple separate devices.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If bales are placed directly on the ground or simple pallets, then the device is simple, but airflow is blocked and the bale cannot breathe keeping it dry and fresh
Solution Approach 1:
The base frame is designed with legs of equal length to provide a level elevation platform, ensuring uniform airflow distribution beneath the bale. This equipotential design allows consistent air circulation around the entire bale without creating dead zones, effectively preventing moisture accumulation while maintaining structural simplicity.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the containment device has fixed components for stability, then the device is stable during use, but it is difficult to transport and store
Solution Approach 1:
The containment device incorporates movable joints and collapsible frame sections that allow the structure to transition from a stable, rigid configuration during bale storage to a compact, folded configuration for transport. This dynamic design resolves the contradiction by providing both stability during use and ease of transport at different operational phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame components are designed to nest within each other when folded, with horizontal cross-members fitting inside vertical stanchion spaces. This nesting arrangement minimizes the storage volume of the device while maintaining full structural integrity during deployment, effectively resolving the transport stability contradiction.
4Reliability
If the device uses corrosion-resistant materials, then the device durability is improved, but the manufacturing cost and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The containment device employs composite construction combining corrosion-resistant metal components for the frame and stanchions with lighter materials for cross-members and supporting elements. This composite approach provides the necessary durability and corrosion resistance while minimizing overall device weight, resolving the contradiction between reliability and weight.
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 device effectively contains hay bales, maintains their dryness and freshness, and facilitates easy deployment and transport by allowing airflow and adjustable positioning.
Implementation Method 1
allow exposure of the bottom of the bale to fresh air to keep the bale dry and fresh
Data Source
AI summary
What is disclosed pertains to an improved hay-bale-containment device to be used to store discrete bales of hay, alfalfa, or other grasses/grains to be used for livestock. The device consists of a corrosion-resistant frame with a bottom “bed” that with legs to elevate any bale of livestock feed stored thereon above the ground and to allow exposure of the bottom of the bale to fresh air to keep the bale dry and fresh. The general framing design of the device is designed to help secure bales disposed therein, and is also equipped with a means to fold-up the entire device for stowage/transport.