Oscillating Tray Separator for Animal Bedding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mechanical separators for animal bedding and excrement are inefficient, leading to residual manure and physical strain on users, with power-assisted devices facing challenges in kinetic energy and adaptability to environmental changes.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical separator with an oscillating tray, linked to a primary frame, providing reciprocating and/or orbital motion, and adjustable tines for enhanced separation, along with antifriction surfaces and wheels for ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If manual separation with manure fork is used, then time consumption is reduced, but separation efficiency deteriorates with 20% manure remaining
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs vibratory motion of the tray to enhance the separation process. The vibration causes the bedding material to bounce and sort through the tines more effectively, allowing better penetration and separation of manure particles from bedding, thereby improving separation efficiency without increasing time consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic elements including oscillating tray motion and adjustable tine configurations. The tray oscillates during separation to maintain contact between bedding and tines, while tines can be adjusted or removed to adapt to different bedding types and manure sizes, optimizing separation efficiency for various conditions.
2Productivity
If manual hand picking is used, then separation efficiency is improved, but physical strain on user increases causing tennis elbow and back pain
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs separation automatically through vibratory motion and gravity, requiring minimal user intervention. The user simply loads the bedding-manure mixture onto the tray and activates the vibration mechanism, allowing the system to self-separate the materials without requiring manual picking actions that cause physical strain.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical action of hand picking with an automated vibratory mechanical system. The vibratory tray and adjustable tines create the separation action automatically, substituting the user's manual labor with a mechanical system that eliminates physical strain while maintaining high separation efficiency.
3Loss of time
If power assisted mechanical separators are used, then time consumption is reduced, but adaptability to environmental conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates dynamic adjustability in the tine configuration and oscillation parameters. Tines can be adjusted in position, angle, and spacing to adapt to different bedding materials, manure sizes, and environmental conditions such as humidity and temperature variations, maintaining versatility while reducing time consumption through automated operation.
4Device complexity
If standard manure fork with 18 tines is used, then device complexity is reduced, but separation efficiency deteriorates with larger tine spacing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the separation function across multiple adjustable tine sections rather than using a fixed dense array. The tray can be segmented into zones with different tine configurations, allowing optimal spacing for different materials while maintaining overall simplicity. This segmented approach improves separation efficiency without requiring uniformly high tine density across the entire device.
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
Improves the efficiency of separating animal bedding from excrement, reducing manual effort and physical strain, while adapting to varying environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
an oscillating means for imparting relatively short period reciprocating and/or orbital motion to the tray
Implementation Method 2
The tray is preferably inclined at an angle between the horizontal and vertical so that material placed on the tray will seek one end thereof during oscillation of the tray
Data Source
AI summary
A mechanical separator having a primary frame, a tray frame linked to the primary frame, and an oscillator linked to the tray frame for imparting relatively short period reciprocating and/or orbital motion thereto. The tray frame includes a plurality of tines preferably rigidly linked at their proximal ends to one end of the tray frame, and a supporting cross member that permits restricted motion of the tines when subject to kinetic impetus. The supporting cross member preferably defines holes through which the tines pass, and the distal ends of the tines are preferably free to move, being only restricted in motion by the supporting cross member. The tray frame is preferably suspended from the primary frame by extension members, which also provide for tilt, elevation and vibration isolation features.