Modular Tobacco Curing Shed with Removable Flexible Panels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sheds for air curing and drying tobacco face issues with durability, complex construction, high labor requirements, and inability to efficiently manage ventilation and temperature, leading to suboptimal tobacco quality and increased processing time.
Innovation Solution
A shed design featuring columns, a removable flexible roof, and side panels made from durable materials like wood, metal, or polycarbonate, with a system of rods or wires for plant support, and agricultural sheeting for ventilation, allowing for improved temperature control and reduced labor in construction and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional transparent plastic roof sheds are used for tobacco curing, then the structure is simple and allows natural light transmission, but the durability is poor and difficult to repair due to damage from weather and storms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure combining a rigid supporting framework (metal or wood columns and beams) with a flexible transparent plastic roof covering. This composite design provides both durability through the strong framework and light transmission through the plastic covering, while the flexibility of the plastic allows it to withstand storm damage without structural failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The shed structure is divided into modular components: standardized columns, beams, and roof panels that can be independently assembled and replaced. This segmentation allows for easy repair by replacing only damaged sections rather than the entire structure, improving durability while maintaining construction simplicity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional sheds with fixed structure are used, then construction is straightforward, but the ability to adapt to different uses (tobacco curing vs. seedling growth) is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The shed incorporates movable and adjustable elements including removable side panels, adjustable roof supports, and reconfigurable internal shelving systems. These dynamic features allow the same structure to be easily reconfigured for different functions - tobacco curing with high ventilation and seedling growth with controlled environment settings - while maintaining ease of operation through simple mechanical adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The shed is designed as a universal structure that can serve multiple purposes: tobacco curing, seedling production, and storage. The standardized modular design with adjustable components enables the same physical structure to accommodate different operational requirements without requiring separate specialized buildings, thus improving adaptability while keeping operation simple through consistent design principles across uses.
3Productivity
If natural air curing without forced air supply is used, then energy consumption is low, but the processing time is extended and temperature control is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation system operates periodically rather than continuously, using natural convection currents created by temperature differences between the tobacco leaves and surrounding air. The shed design incorporates vertical airflow channels and strategically placed ventilation openings that activate naturally during curing cycles, providing enhanced air movement and faster processing without requiring constant energy input from forced air systems.
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 shed achieves a 25% reduction in processing time and a 32% increase in processing capacity while maintaining high tobacco quality, with improved durability and ease of use, enabling year-round functionality and efficient seedling growth.
Implementation Method 1
a set of substantially horizontal supports (6) to support the supports (7) for the tobacco plants (FT) for pre-wilting, curing and drying
Implementation Method 2
The standard shed (1) according to this utility model comprises: (iii) a set of substantially horizontal supports (6) to support the supports (7) for the tobacco plants (FT) for pre-wilting, curing and drying
Implementation Method 3
a removable flexible roof (5) stretched over the said structure (4); (v) fixing elements (8) to secure the said side panels (3) and the flexible roof (5)
Implementation Method 4
For example, Virginia type tobacco requires a curing process in which a forced and/or convected air supply and artificial heating are required to achieve the temperature required to cure it
Data Source
AI summary
This utility model relates to a shed for the air drying and curing of tobacco and the growth and production of seedlings, comprising: (i) a plurality of columns (2) which can be positioned at spaced intervals; (ii) a structure (4) mounted on the said columns; (iii) a removable flexible roof (5) stretched over the said structure (4); (iv) removable flexible side panels (3) extending between the said columns; (v) fixing elements (8) to attach the said side panels (3) and the flexible roof (5).