Livestock Applicator Assembly with Rotating Brush

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for applying liquid compositions, such as insecticides or cleaning agents, onto livestock are often wasteful, inconvenient, and require significant manual input, posing safety risks and inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A system featuring a suspended applicator assembly with a tank and brush design that utilizes animal rubbing behavior to apply liquid compositions efficiently, with vertical and rotational movement of the applicator assembly allowing for broad coverage and minimal manual input, including side brushes for enhanced surface area application and stability features to withstand animal forces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If liquid compositions are applied manually onto livestock, then the application can be performed with simple equipment, but the process is time-consuming and requires significant manual input

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanual input requirementVSAvoidapplication speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system allows livestock to self-apply the liquid composition by rubbing against the applicator brush, eliminating the need for manual application by operators. The animal's own movement and rubbing action delivers the composition, making the system self-serving and highly productive

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical application with an automated system where the liquid is dispensed through apertures and applied via the animal's own rubbing motion against the brush, substituting human labor with an automated mechanical delivery system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If existing applicator systems are used, then liquid composition can be applied to livestock, but the systems are wasteful and inconvenient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication efficiencyVSAvoidliquid composition waste

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The applicator tank features apertures positioned at specific locations to control where liquid is dispensed, and the brush is positioned to contact specific areas of the animal, ensuring localized and precise application that prevents waste and ensures even distribution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The applicator assembly is designed to move vertically and rotate in response to animal interaction, dynamically adjusting the application process to match the animal's movement and rubbing behavior, which prevents overflow and waste while maintaining continuous coverage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If manual application methods are used, then equipment simplicity is maintained, but safety risks increase due to handling requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem structureVSAvoidsafety risks

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The livestock applies the composition to itself by rubbing against the applicator, eliminating the need for operators to handle or apply potentially hazardous liquids directly, thus removing the safety risks associated with manual handling while maintaining a relatively simple system structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Device complexity

If fixed-position applicators are used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different animal sizes is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupport structureVSAvoidanimal size accommodation

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The applicator assembly is mounted on vertical supports that allow it to slide up and down, and it can rotate in response to animal interaction. This dynamic positioning capability allows the same simple structure to adapt to livestock of various sizes and heights without requiring complex adjustable mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 applies liquid compositions with reduced manual effort, accommodating various animal sizes and ensuring thorough coverage, while maintaining stability and efficient delivery of the composition, thus addressing the inefficiencies and safety concerns of existing methods.

Implementation Method 1

Jostling of the applicator assembly, including vertical movement, rotational movement, or a combination thereof, causes the liquid composition to exit the applicator tank through the plurality of apertures, and trickle downward, passing onto the plurality of bristles on the applicator brush and onto the animal by way of gravity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS11044891B2Livestock insecticide application system

Publication Date: 2021.06.29 SANDOVAL CHRISTOPHER M

AI summary

A system for applying an insecticide onto livestock. The system includes a gate assembly, two side brush assemblies, and an applicator assembly. During use, an animal contacts the applicator assembly, thereby causing the insecticide to exit the applicator assembly and contact the animal, where it is applied by the applicator assembly and the two side brush assemblies. The system is configured to efficiently and conveniently apply the insecticide onto the animal and reduce or eliminate a need for manually applying the insecticide onto the animal.