Mucking Device With Rotating Sleeve Basket For Bedding Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mucking processes for removing animal waste from stalls are labor-intensive, messy, and pose health hazards due to the physical effort and dust dispersion involved in separating waste from bedding material.

Innovation Solution

A mucking device with a rotating sleeve and basket design that allows for efficient separation of unsoiled bedding material from waste, featuring a handle with a rotating sleeve that configures to open and close, enabling easy loading, sifting, and disposal of waste, reducing manual effort and dust dispersion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional tools (pitchfork or mucking rake) are used to sift through bedding material, then unsoiled bedding material can be separated from waste, but the process becomes time and labor intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemucking speedVSAvoidmanual effort

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the basket and lid into a single integrated mucking device that performs both collection and separation functions simultaneously. The lid with its grid structure merges the separation function directly into the collection container, eliminating the need for separate sifting operations with traditional pitchforks or rakes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The lid is designed to be movable relative to the basket, allowing it to transition between open and closed positions. This dynamic structure enables the lid to be positioned for sifting during collection, then closed to contain and transport the separated waste, improving operational efficiency compared to static conventional tools.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If all bedding material is removed from the stall, then complete waste removal is achieved, but bedding material costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewaste removal completenessVSAvoidbedding material

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The lid grid is designed with specific opening sizes and patterns that allow unsoiled bedding material to pass through while retaining waste. This localized quality control in the grid design enables selective separation based on material properties (soiled vs. unsoiled), allowing users to salvage usable bedding while removing waste completely.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The device enables users to discard only the soiled portion of the bedding material while recovering and retaining the unsoiled portion for continued use. The lid grid facilitates this selective discarding by allowing unsoiled bedding to pass through during the mucking process, reducing bedding material losses and associated costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Productivity

If bedding material is aggressively sifted to separate waste, then separation efficiency improves, but dust and particulate matter disperse into the air

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation efficiencyVSAvoiddust dispersion

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The lid acts as an intermediary structure between the waste/bedding mixture and the external environment. During the sifting process, the lid grid mediates the separation by allowing unsoiled bedding to pass through while containing waste and particulate matter within the basket, reducing dust dispersion into the air while maintaining separation efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The lid functions as a flexible barrier that can be positioned to control the flow of materials. When closed, it creates a contained environment that prevents dust and particulate matter from escaping into the air, while still allowing the sifting function to operate effectively through its grid structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Reliability

If a closed basket design is used, then waste containment improves, but loading and unloading operations become more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewaste containmentVSAvoidlid operation mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lid is segmented from the basket body, allowing it to move independently. This segmentation simplifies the loading and unloading operations by enabling the lid to be opened for access, then closed for containment, without requiring complex mechanical linkages or multiple moving parts. The simple segmented design maintains waste containment while avoiding excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9179642B2Mucking device

Publication Date: 2015.11.10 KNITTEL LYLE DEAN

AI summary

Apparatus and methods for mucking livestock enclosures and separating bedding material from animal waste are disclosed. Various embodiments are directed toward a mucking device having a scoop portion with a basket connected to a handle and a sliding lid that can be opened and closed by sliding a rotating sleeve along an inner shaft of the handle. The scoop of the mucking device can be inverted by rotating the inner shaft relative to the rotating sleeve, thus causing the basket to be disposed above the lid. Bedding material can be sifted out of the basket while retaining the animal waste. Once a desired amount of bedding material has been separated, the scoop can be opened by sliding the rotating sleeve along the inner shaft to open the lid and thus release the retained animal waste and residual bedding material. Other embodiments are directed toward methods for using the mucking device.