Pneumatic Grain Bin Membrane for Complete Unloading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile combine harvesters face challenges in maximizing grain bin capacity while maintaining stability due to either flat bottom surfaces that leave grain unaccessed or sloped surfaces that sacrifice volume and increase the center of gravity, making it unstable, especially on uneven terrain.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatically inflated membrane within the grain bin that can transition from a flat to a sloped configuration using pressurized air from the combine's engine, assisted by ducts and sensors to direct grain towards the auger for efficient unloading and maximize storage capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If the grain bin has a flat bottom surface, then the storage capacity is maximized and the center of gravity is lowered, but the auger cannot access all the grain and some valuable grain is left in the bin
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the bin bottom surface changeable between flat and sloped configurations. The membrane or movable bottom surface can be adjusted from a flat position (maximizing storage capacity and lowering center of gravity) to a sloped position (enabling complete grain access by the auger). This dynamic transformation allows the system to optimize for different operational phases: storage versus unloading.
2Productivity
If the grain bin has a sloped bottom surface, then the grain can be efficiently directed to the auger for emptying, but the volume within the bin is sacrificed and the center of gravity is raised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by implementing a dynamic bottom surface that can transform between sloped and flat configurations. During unloading operations, the bottom surface slopes to efficiently direct grain toward the auger inlet. During storage operations, the bottom surface flattens to maximize volume capacity and lower the center of gravity. This dynamic adaptability eliminates the need to permanently sacrifice storage volume for unloading efficiency.
3Productivity
If the grain bin has a sloped bottom surface, then the grain unloading is more efficient, but the center of gravity is raised reducing the stability of the combine
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the bin bottom configuration changeable based on operational needs. The bottom surface can be sloped during unloading to improve grain flow efficiency, and flat during storage to maintain low center of gravity and enhance combine stability. This temporal separation of functions through dynamic reconfiguration resolves the stability-efficiency trade-off.
4Productivity
If a reconfigurable bottom surface system is added to the grain bin, then both storage capacity and unloading efficiency can be optimized, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible membranes or thin film structures to create the reconfigurable bottom surface. These flexible elements can be inflated, deflated, or mechanically actuated to transform between flat and sloped configurations. This approach achieves complex reconfiguration functionality using relatively simple, lightweight components compared to rigid mechanical systems, thereby minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes pneumatic or hydraulic actuation systems to control the transformation of the bottom surface. By using pressurized gas or liquid to inflate or deflate membrane structures, the system achieves smooth, controlled reconfiguration between flat and sloped states. This pneumatic/hydraulic approach provides reliable actuation with minimal mechanical complexity, resolving the contradiction between functionality and device complexity.
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 system allows for efficient unloading of grain while maintaining a lower center of gravity, maximizing storage capacity and stability by selectively inflating the membrane to direct grain towards the auger, and automatically alerts or initiates inflation when the bin is full or has residual grain, ensuring complete unloading and optimal storage space.
Implementation Method 1
ducts having a first end and a second end, wherein the ducts connect the engine to the membrane so as to selectively direct the gas into the membrane to transition the membrane from an inflated to a deflated configuration
Implementation Method 2
The system includes a detector or sensor, such as a weight sensor, volume sensor or grain height sensor, to determine when the container is full or nearly full of grain
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is directed to an apparatus for emptying material from a container on a vehicle. The apparatus has a container with a bottom surface and a sidewall. A membrane being mounted within the container proximate the sidewall and the bottom surface. The apparatus further includes an engine and ducts having a first end and a second end. The first end connected to the engine so as to receive gas from the engine and connected at the second end to the membrane so as to direct the gas into the membrane.