Mobile Overload Trailer with Integrated Separating Device

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current technologies for separating harvested plant products from soil and other admixtures are inefficient, requiring significant time and manpower, and often result in soil accumulation and additional transportation costs, with existing devices being static or not mobile, leading to contamination risks and poor separation efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A height-adjustable overload trailer equipped with a moveable frame, rotating rolling bodies, and a discharge belt for separating and collecting admixtures, allowing for simultaneous separation and unloading of plant products at the harvesting location, reducing contamination risks and minimizing transport costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separation devices are installed at a certain distance from the harvesting location, then separation function is provided, but soil accumulation occurs locally and contamination risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseparation functionVSAvoidcontamination risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the separation device with the overload trailer to create an integrated mobile separation system. The separator is mounted directly on the trailer, allowing separation to occur at the harvesting location rather than at a distant stationary facility. This merging of separation and transport functions eliminates soil accumulation at fixed locations and reduces contamination risk by processing products immediately after harvest.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the stationary separation device into a mobile system by mounting it on an overload trailer that can be moved to different harvesting locations. This dynamic configuration allows the separation function to follow the harvester, preventing soil accumulation at any single location and reducing the risk of contamination from non-local bacteria, fungi, and nematodes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If stationary separation devices are used, then separation is achieved, but additional transport of separated soil is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseparation functionVSAvoidadditional transport time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the separation device with the overload trailer that is already used for transporting harvested products. The separated soil and plant products are both contained on the same mobile platform, allowing the soil to be deposited back at the harvesting location without requiring separate transport operations. This combination eliminates the need for additional transport of separated soil.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The overload trailer serves multiple functions: it transports harvested products, houses the separation device, collects separated soil, and deposits both products and soil at the harvesting location. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated soil transport equipment and operations, reducing time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If manual cleaning of harvested products is performed, then admixtures are removed, but significant time and manpower are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning functionVSAvoidprocessing speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual cleaning operations with an automated mechanical separation system. The separator uses a screen or mesh surface that mechanically separates plant products from soil and other admixtures based on size differences. This automated mechanical separation eliminates the need for manual cleaning, significantly increasing processing speed while maintaining effective removal of admixtures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Productivity

If thick layers of products are processed, then processing capacity is maintained, but separation efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing capacityVSAvoidseparation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the product layer into thinner layers as it moves through the separation device. The inclined screen surface causes material to spread out and form a thin layer during the separation process, ensuring that even though large volumes are processed, the actual separation occurs in thin layers for high efficiency. This segmentation allows maintaining processing capacity while achieving excellent separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses an inclined screen surface that processes material in a distributed manner across two dimensions (length and width of the screen) rather than processing a thick layer in one dimension. This dimensional approach allows large volumes of material to be processed simultaneously while maintaining thin layer separation efficiency across the entire screen surface area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 solution enables efficient and economic processing of harvested products by separating admixtures from plant products at the source, reducing contamination risks and minimizing transport of unwanted materials, thus optimizing the loading and transport process.

Implementation Method 1

a separating device (1) provided for separating harvested plant products from possible remaining admixtures

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

a discharge belt (105) provided at the roller bed (101), wherein the discharge belt (105) is able to move in two directions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3132669B1Device and method for separating plant products of admixtures
Publication Date: 2018.01.17 DEZEURE NV
  • EP3132669B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3132669B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3132669B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The present invention relates to a transfer device for transferring harvested plant products from a harvester to a further transferring means, such as a further road or railway transport, provided with a moveable frame (3) onto which a loading container (2) is provided, in which the loading container is provided with means (305) for lifting the loading container in an angle with respect to the ground surface, and is further provided with means for the discharge of the harvested products to a discharge end of the device, in which at the discharge end, a separating device (1) is provided for separating the harvested plant products of remaining admixtures, such as soil, clods, stones, foliage or similar material.