Multidirectional Chute Control for Continuous Utility Vehicle Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for loading commercial vehicles do not enable continuous loading using a reusable chute, leading to inefficiencies and potential delays, especially when vehicles are far apart or when human errors occur.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a reusable 'trouser chute' that branches material flow via gravity, combined with a passage control system, presence sensors, and a computer system to manage the switching states of the chute based on data from presence and material level detection sensors, ensuring continuous loading across multiple vehicles arranged in rows.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single reusable chute is used to load commercial vehicles sequentially, then the device complexity is reduced, but the productivity decreases due to loading interruptions and waiting time
Solution Approach 1:
The chute system is segmented into multiple independent chutes (first chute, second chute, third chute) that can operate simultaneously or independently. Each chute can serve different vehicles at different times, allowing parallel loading operations and eliminating the sequential bottleneck of a single chute system.
Solution Approach 2:
The multiple chutes are designed to serve universal loading functions for different commercial vehicles. The system can dynamically assign any chute to any vehicle based on readiness and position, making the chute infrastructure multi-functional and adaptable to varying loading demands.
2Adaptability or versatility
If vehicles are positioned hundreds or thousands of meters apart, then the adaptability of the loading system increases, but the loss of time increases due to vehicle movement and positioning delays
Solution Approach 1:
Vehicles are positioned in advance in designated rows (front row, middle row, rear row) and prepared for loading before actually needing to be loaded. The system pre-positions multiple vehicles at different distances from the loading point, so when one vehicle is being loaded, others are already in position and ready to receive material, eliminating waiting time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous loading action by having multiple vehicles in different rows at various stages of readiness. While one vehicle is being loaded, another is moving into position, and a third is being prepared, ensuring the loading process never stops and material flow remains continuous despite vehicles being spread over large distances.
3Productivity
If multiple rows of vehicles are used with vehicles facing opposite directions, then the productivity increases through parallel loading, but the device complexity increases due to traffic control requirements
Solution Approach 1:
A computer system acts as an intermediary controller that manages the complex traffic control requirements. The computer receives data from presence sensors and material level sensors, processes this information, and automatically controls the chutes and traffic flow, simplifying the overall system architecture by centralizing control logic rather than requiring complex distributed control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback loops where presence sensors detect vehicle positions and material level sensors monitor loading status, with this data fed back to the computer control system. The computer adjusts chute operation and traffic control based on this real-time feedback, enabling automated coordination of multiple vehicles in opposite rows without requiring manual traffic management.
4Measurement precision
If presence sensors and material level sensors are deployed for each vehicle, then the measurement precision increases for loading control, but the device complexity increases due to the sensor network
Solution Approach 1:
The presence sensors and material level sensors are merged into a unified sensor network managed by a single computer system. Rather than treating these as separate independent systems, they are integrated so that the computer receives combined data from all sensors and coordinates chute operation based on the aggregate information, reducing overall system complexity through consolidation.
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
This solution ensures continuous and efficient loading of commercial vehicles by optimizing the switching of the chute between vehicles, reducing the risk of delays and material spills, and allowing for flexible operation even when vehicles are hundreds or thousands of meters apart.
Implementation Method 1
A trouser chute serves to branch the material flow by means of gravity
Data Source
Figure 1~6
AI summary
The present invention relates to a system (1) for continuously loading utility vehicles (2) with material, having: - at least one multidirectional chute (3) which can be switched into different switch states in order to load different utility vehicles (2) successively with material, - at least three utility vehicles (21, 22, 23, 24), wherein the utility vehicles (21, 22, 23, 24) are arranged in at least two rows (41, 42), specifically at least two utility vehicles (21, 22) in a front row (41) and at least one utility vehicle (23, 24) in at least one subsequent row (42), wherein at least one utility vehicle (21, 22) in the front row (41) is followed, counter to the direction of travel (F) thereof, by the at least one utility vehicle (23, 24) unfilled in the at least one subsequent row (42), - a transit control system (5), wherein each utility vehicle (21, 22, 23, 24) is assigned a transit control element (51, 52, 53, 54), - a presence sensor system (6), wherein each utility vehicle (21, 22, 23, 24) is assigned a presence sensor (61, 62, 63, 64), - a material fill level detection system (7), wherein each utility vehicle (21, 22) in the front row (41) is assigned a material fill level detection sensor (71, 72), and - a computer system to control the switch state of the multidirectional chute (3) on the basis of the data of the presence sensor system (6) and of the material fill level detection system (7).The invention also relates to a method for loading the utility vehicles (2) of the system (1).