Mobile Conveyor Control System for Bulk Material Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile conveyor systems for bulk granular materials are inefficient, requiring excessive personnel and expertise due to complex operation and design limitations, particularly in controlling the conveyance of materials from one location to another.
Innovation Solution
A control system for a mobile conveyor vehicle that includes a first and second belt conveyor system, powered actuator systems, and a steerable drive system, with an operator interface, computation module, and control center to automatically determine and execute the positioning of conveyor ends based on user input, optimizing material flow and reducing operator dependency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If existing mobile conveyor systems are used, then material conveyance can be achieved, but the operation requires excessive personnel and expertise due to complex operation and design limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The control system automatically determines and executes positioning of conveyor ends based on user input, making the system self-regulating and reducing dependency on operator expertise for complex control decisions
Solution Approach 2:
Manual mechanical control operations are replaced with an automated computation module that calculates optimal positioning and a control center that executes commands, substituting human operator functions with automated computational and control systems
2Extent of automation
If automated control is implemented, then operator dependency is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is divided into distinct functional modules: operator interface for input, computation module for determining control solutions, and control center for execution, allowing complex automation to be managed through modular, organized components
Solution Approach 2:
The control system integrates multiple functions into a unified platform that handles positioning, material flow optimization, and coordination of powered actuator systems, reducing the need for separate specialized systems
Data Source
AI summary
Control solutions for a mobile conveyor vehicle are provided. The vehicle includes a pair of movable belt conveyor systems for conveying bulk material to an elevated location. One of the conveyors may be rotated via turntable while the other is rotated by four-wheel steering motion of the vehicle. The control system may be configured to: receive user input indicative of desired infeed location of the infeed end and a desired output location of the output end; determine a desired control solution for disposing the infeed end at the desired infeed location and disposing the output end at the desired output location; and cooperatively operate the first powered actuator system, the second powered actuator system and the powered drive system according to the desired control solution.