Manure Scraper Trolley Conduit Design for Barn Floor Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing manure scraping systems face issues such as equipment and livestock navigation difficulties due to elevated paddle and drive wheels, clogging of manure slots, and slippery surfaces caused by steel plates in the conduit, leading to safety hazards for animals.
Innovation Solution
A manure scraping system with a trolley that includes paddle wheels rotating at higher speeds than drive wheels, with wheels and paddle mechanisms entirely within the conduit to prevent clogging and reduce surface slipperiness, and textured conduit surfaces to enhance animal safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the paddle wheel and drive wheels are positioned above the barn floor to enable manure scraping, then the manure scraping function is achieved, but equipment and livestock have difficulty navigating around the wheels
Solution Approach 1:
The invention relocates the paddle wheel and drive wheel mechanism from a horizontal positioning (above the barn floor) to a vertical positioning (within the conduit below the floor level). This dimensional change allows the wheels to perform their scraping function while being hidden from the navigation path of equipment and livestock, thus resolving the contradiction between scraping efficiency and navigation ease.
2Device complexity
If the paddle wheel rotates at the same speed as the drive wheels, then the mechanism is simple, but the slots become clogged with manure
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces variable rotational speeds for the paddle wheel and drive wheels. The paddle wheel rotates at a higher speed than the drive wheels, creating a dynamic differentiation that prevents manure clogging in the slots while maintaining a relatively simple mechanical structure through independent speed control mechanisms.
3Strength
If steel plates are used as strengthening members in the conduit, then the conduit structural strength is improved, but the surfaces become slippery causing livestock to slip
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies different surface qualities to different parts of the conduit. The interior surface that contacts livestock is textured to provide non-slip properties, while the structural steel plates maintain their smooth surface for strength. This local differentiation allows the conduit to simultaneously achieve structural strength and livestock safety.
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 allows for easier navigation of equipment and livestock, reduces manure clogging, and minimizes animal slipping hazards by ensuring the paddle wheels operate at higher speeds and the conduit surfaces are textured to prevent slipping.
Implementation Method 1
The upper face of the conduit between the mating first and second slots is textured to prevent animals from slipping on the upper face
Implementation Method 2
the paddle wheel and drive wheels are arranged to rotate at different rotary speeds so the paddle wheel rotates at higher speeds
Data Source
AI summary
Manure is scrapped from a barn floor including an elongated conduit by blades on a trolley moving in the direction of the elongated conduit. The manure passes into the conduit via a slot. The trolley has a paddle wheel and drive wheels bearing on the conduit interior lower surface. The entirety of the drive wheels and most of the paddle wheel are in the conduit. A sprocket and chain arrangement connects the wheels so that, as the drive wheels turn, the paddle wheel turns to urge manure into the conduit.