Hose-End Spreader Prevents Clogging With Segregated Chambers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hose-end spreader devices often clog due to the mixing of granular products with water, leading to inefficiencies in application, particularly for lawn care purposes.
Innovation Solution
A hose-end spreader device featuring a hopper with a first chamber and a second chamber, where the granular product and fluid are kept separate until exit, utilizing impellers to ensure efficient dispensing of granular products and water mixing occurs outside the device, preventing clogging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If granular product is mixed with water inside the spreader device, then application efficiency is improved, but clogging occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The spreader device is divided into separate chambers: a first chamber for granular product and a second chamber for water, with each chamber having its own impeller. This segmentation prevents mixing inside the device while allowing controlled dispensing, resolving the contradiction between application efficiency and clogging prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a partition wall with an aperture as an intermediary structure between the granular product chamber and water chamber. This intermediary allows controlled interaction while maintaining separation, enabling efficient application without direct mixing that causes clogging.
2Reliability
If granular product and water are kept separate within the device, then clogging is prevented, but mixing efficiency may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs rotating impellers in both chambers that create dynamic flow patterns. The first impeller agitates granular product while the second impeller delivers water, and their coordinated rotation enables efficient mixing outside the device while maintaining separation inside, thus preventing clogging without sacrificing mixing efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses hydraulic principles where water flow through the second chamber drives the second impeller, which in turn can drive the first impeller through coupled shafts. This hydraulic coupling enables efficient product discharge and mixing outside the device while keeping chambers separate to prevent clogging.
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 effectively prevents clogging and ensures uniform application of granular products like seeds and fertilizers by maintaining separation within the device until dispensing, enhancing the spreading efficiency and reducing maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
a first impeller disposed in the first chamber... rotation of the first impeller causes the product to dispense from the first opening
Implementation Method 2
a fluid flows through the fluid inlet into the second chamber, through the second chamber causing rotation of the first and second impellers
Data Source
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AI summary
A hose-end spreader device (10) includes a hopper (12) configured to contain an amount of granular product, the hopper (12) comprising a hopper inlet (18) and a hopper outlet (20) in communication with the hopper inlet (18). The device (10) further includes a first chamber (14) in communication with the hopper outlet (20), the first chamber (14) comprising a first opening (22) through which the granular product exits the device (10), and a first impeller (24) disposed in the first chamber (14). Also included are a housing (26) disposed below the first chamber (14), the housing (26) comprising a fluid inlet (28), a second chamber (30) in communication with the fluid inlet (28), and a second opening (32) in communication with the second chamber (30) through which a fluid exits the device (10), and a second impeller (34) disposed in the second chamber (30). The second impeller (34) is coupled to the first impeller (24).