Inflatable Air Hose for Hay Bale Drying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hay drying systems are not simple, reliable, or inexpensive to operate, particularly when dealing with high residual moisture in hay bales, which can lead to mold growth during storage.
Innovation Solution
A hay drying system featuring a flexible, inflatable air hose arrangement that forms the majority of the air duct route, allowing for easy transport, assembly, and operation, with a main hose and secondary hoses connected via plug-in connections and distributor rings for efficient air distribution to multiple hay bales.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If rigid metal pipes are used for air distribution, then structural stability is improved, but weight and ease of transport deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies flexible air hoses instead of rigid metal pipes for air distribution. The hoses are made of flexible material that can be easily transported and stored, while still providing sufficient structural stability when inflated with air under pressure. This resolves the contradiction by using flexible shells to replace rigid structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses pneumatic pressure to inflate the air hoses, giving them structural stability only when needed during operation. When deflated, the hoses become lightweight and easily transportable. This dynamic application of pneumatic principles allows the system to switch between stable and portable states.
2Stability of the object's composition
If rigid metal pipes are used for air distribution, then structural stability is improved, but ease of operation and storage deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible air hoses can be easily rolled up, folded, or coiled for storage and transport, then quickly deployed when needed. This flexibility dramatically improves ease of operation compared to rigid pipes that require complex assembly and disassembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The air hoses transition from a deflated flexible state (easy to store) to an inflated stable state (functional during operation). This dynamic transformation allows the system to adapt between storage and operational requirements.
3Ease of operation
If air hose arrangement is used, then ease of transport and flexibility are improved, but air resistance may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The air hoses are inflated to appropriate pressure levels to maintain adequate internal diameter and smooth internal surfaces, minimizing friction and resistance to airflow. The pressure parameter is optimized to balance flexibility with efficient air flow.
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 system effectively reduces moisture content in hay bales to less than 20% using a lightweight, flexible air hose arrangement that minimizes air resistance and facilitates efficient air flow, enabling cost-effective and reliable drying of multiple hay bales simultaneously.
Implementation Method 1
The air tube is inflatable, meaning its volume can be increased by changing its shape during inflation without stretching
Implementation Method 2
a blower (4) that supplies compressed air
Implementation Method 3
air, which may be pre-warmed, is blown through the hay, removing moisture
Implementation Method 4
air, which may be pre-warmed, is blown through the hay, removing moisture
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The system (2) has an air circulation system (6) for supplying air from a fan (4) to multiple hay bales, and an air injection part (36) attached to an air outlet of the fan. An air blowing unit (38) positions air in the hay bales. The air circulation system includes an air hose assembly (10), and air hoses (12, 14) i.e. fabric tubes, inflated in specific volume and adjustable length, where 70 percentages of an air flow path is formed from the injection part to the air blowing unit. The air hoses are made of plastic, and include a ring construction (26) i.e. spiral construction.