Mixture Laying Machine Exhaust Port Cover for Blower Protection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing paving machines face issues with foreign matter entering the blower through the gas exhaust port, leading to potential malfunctions, especially when the blower is operated with the roof in a lowered position.
Innovation Solution
A mixture laying machine with a movable roof and a flexible flow path member that adjusts the direction of the exhaust port, incorporating a cover to protect the blower when the roof is lowered, and a support unit to change the exhaust port's direction based on the roof's position, ensuring the exhaust port is directed away from the driver seat when raised and covered when lowered.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the exhaust port is positioned upward when the roof is lowered, then the blower can operate, but foreign matter may enter the blower causing malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
A cover is introduced as an intermediary component between the exhaust port and the external environment. The cover closes the exhaust port when the roof is in the lowered position, preventing foreign matter from entering the blower while allowing the blower to operate normally. This mediator component resolves the contradiction by blocking the harmful path without interfering with the blower's function.
Solution Approach 2:
The exhaust port's orientation is made dynamic through a support unit that enables rotation. When the roof is raised, the exhaust port rotates to face rearward for efficient gas discharge. When the roof is lowered, the exhaust port can be positioned upward but is protected by the cover. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt to different operational states, resolving the contradiction between operation ease and reliability.
2Productivity
If the exhaust port is directed rearward when the roof is raised, then gas exhaust efficiency is improved, but the exhaust port needs complex positioning mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The exhaust port is equipped with a support unit that enables rotational movement, allowing it to dynamically change orientation based on the roof position. When the roof is raised, the exhaust port rotates to face rearward for efficient gas discharge. This dynamic capability achieves high productivity without requiring a completely separate positioning mechanism for each orientation, as the same support unit handles both positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The support unit serves multiple functions: it positions the exhaust port rearward when the roof is raised for efficient exhaust, and it allows the exhaust port to be positioned upward when the roof is lowered while the cover provides protection. This multi-functional component reduces overall device complexity by combining positioning and adaptation capabilities in a single mechanism.
3Reliability
If the exhaust port is covered when the roof is lowered, then foreign matter entry is prevented, but the cover adds device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is merged with the exhaust port assembly, forming an integrated unit. The cover is positioned to closely follow the exhaust port's movement and orientation, eliminating the need for separate actuation mechanisms. This merging reduces device complexity by combining the protection function with the existing exhaust port structure rather than adding an independent cover system.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover is designed to automatically follow the exhaust port's position and orientation without requiring independent control. As the exhaust port moves to different positions based on roof height, the cover naturally maintains its protective position relative to the exhaust port. This self-service approach minimizes the complexity of the cover mechanism while ensuring continuous protection when needed.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Provided is a mixture laying machine (100) capable of reducing a possibility that a malfunction occurs in a blower (63). There is provided a mixture laying machine 100 including: a traveling body 1; a hopper 2 mounted on the traveling body (1) and capable of accommodating a mixture; a driver seat 11 mounted on the traveling body (1); a movable roof 20 disposed above the driver seat (11); a blower 63 that blows gas; a flexible flow path member 64 that forms a flow path which communicates with the blower (63) and through which the gas flows; an exhaust port 66 that communicates with the flow path and exhausts the gas; a support unit 80 that is attached to the roof (20) and supports the exhaust port (66) to be able to change a direction of the exhaust port (66); and a cover 70 that covers the exhaust port (66) when the exhaust port (66) is present at a first height position H1, in which, when the exhaust port (66) is present at a second height position H2 that is above the driver seat (11) and higher than the first height position (H1), the exhaust port (66) is directed to a side opposite to the driver seat (11).