Livestock Transport Vent Assembly With Automatic Airflow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing livestock transporters have limited ventilation options, requiring manual adjustment of vent cover plates, which is time-consuming and can lead to injury to livestock as they can still protrude their bodies through the openings.
Innovation Solution
A vent assembly with powered actuating means, allowing automatic movement of flow control members between open and closed positions, connected to temperature monitoring and control systems for optimal ventilation, and designed with apertures that prevent livestock from passing through.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual cover plate adjustment is used for ventilation control, then ventilation options are limited, but the device complexity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by replacing static manual cover plates with dynamically adjustable flow control members that can automatically change position based on temperature feedback. The flow control members are movable between different positions (open, closed, intermediate) to dynamically adjust ventilation levels according to livestock needs
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service through automatic control where temperature sensors monitor the transporter interior and the control system automatically adjusts flow control member positions without manual intervention. This enables the ventilation system to self-regulate based on environmental conditions
2Ease of operation
If manual adjustment of vent cover plates is required, then ventilation can be controlled, but time is lost in adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation system performs self-adjustment through automatic control mechanisms that monitor temperature and independently adjust flow control member positions without requiring operator intervention, eliminating time loss associated with manual adjustment
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses temperature sensors to continuously monitor interior conditions and provides feedback to the control system, which automatically adjusts ventilation levels. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables real-time automatic adjustment without manual intervention
3Temperature
If large openings are provided in side walls for ventilation, then air flow is improved, but livestock safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the large opening into multiple smaller apertures distributed across the flow control member. This segmentation maintains total ventilation area while individual small apertures prevent livestock body parts from passing through, eliminating the safety hazard of large openings
Solution Approach 2:
The flow control member provides different local qualities: the apertures are sized and positioned to allow adequate air flow while being too small for livestock to pass through. This local differentiation of aperture sizes and positions simultaneously achieves ventilation and safety
Data Source
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AI summary
There are provided vent assemblies for use with transporters. In one embodiment a vent assembly (20) is adapted to provide an air flow path between an interior and an exterior of a transporter (10) and the assembly (20) comprises a flow control member (40) which is slideable between first and second positions such that the extent to which the flow control member (40) obstructs said air flow path can be varied by sliding the flow control member (40) between said first and second positions. Also provided are transporters (10) and methods of transporting livestock.