Vertical Pneumatic Silo Separator for Grain Handling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Pneumatic conveyor systems for delivering granular materials to storage silos face issues such as rooftop delivery exposing machinery to weather damage, high maintenance costs, grain-to-grain damage, and efficiency losses due to vertical material drop, leading to contamination and product separation.

Innovation Solution

A system with separators and support structures within the silo that route pneumatic tubes near ground level, reducing the height of material drop and eliminating external components like cyclone separators, using coaxial separators that selectively separate material from airflow and deposit it as a mound, automatically adjusting to maintain fluid flow without separation when the mound blocks the outlet.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If pneumatic conveyor delivers material to the top of storage silos, then material can be deposited into the silo, but machinery is exposed to weather-related damage and contamination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection from weather damageVSAvoidexternal delivery requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional delivery approach by delivering material from the bottom of the silo upward through vertical separators instead of from the top downward. This inversion protects the pneumatic conveyor machinery from weather exposure while maintaining effective material deposition into the silo.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The pneumatic conveyor tube is positioned inside the silo structure, with vertical separators nested within the tube. This nesting arrangement consolidates the delivery system within the silo's protected environment, eliminating external exposure to weather damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Productivity

If material is deposited from the top of the silo, then filling is achieved, but grain-to-grain damage occurs due to falling height

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesilo filling efficiencyVSAvoidgrain-to-grain damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the delivery direction from top-down to bottom-up. Material is conveyed upward through vertical separators and deposited at the bottom of the silo, eliminating the harmful falling distance that causes grain-to-grain damage while maintaining efficient silo filling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The delivery system is segmented into multiple vertical separators arranged in series within the pneumatic tube. This segmentation allows material to be deposited in controlled stages at the bottom of the silo rather than falling as a single mass from the top, reducing impact damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If material is dropped from high above ground, then silo filling is achieved, but product separation of mixed granular materials occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesilo filling rateVSAvoidproduct homogeneity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the delivery approach to bottom-up deposition, preventing the product separation that occurs when mixed granular materials are dropped from height. Material is conveyed upward and deposited gently at the bottom, maintaining product homogeneity while achieving efficient silo filling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple vertical separators are arranged in series, creating segmented deposition zones at the bottom of the silo. This segmentation ensures mixed granular materials are deposited in a controlled manner that maintains product composition stability without the separation caused by free-fall from height.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Productivity

If vertical pneumatic tubing is used, then material can be conveyed upward, but choking occurs due to settling out of entrained material

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevertical conveyance capabilityVSAvoidflow continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The vertical pneumatic tube is divided into multiple sections by separators arranged in series. Each separator creates a localized deposition zone that prevents material accumulation and choking, maintaining continuous airflow and reliable vertical conveyance capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The separators are positioned in advance along the vertical tube to preemptively separate and deposit material before it can accumulate and cause choking. This preliminary action maintains flow continuity and prevents interruptions in vertical conveyance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

5Ease of operation

If rooftop delivery components are used, then material can be delivered to silo top, but system expense increases due to cyclone separators and exterior supports

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery functionalityVSAvoidsystem cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pneumatic conveyor tube and vertical separators are nested within the silo structure, eliminating the need for external support structures and rooftop-mounted cyclone separators. This nesting reduces system complexity and cost while maintaining full delivery functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The delivery system is merged with the silo structure itself, using the silo's existing framework for support. This consolidation eliminates redundant exterior supports and reduces the number of separate components needed, lowering overall system expense.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 reduces grain-to-grain damage, product separation, and increases efficiency by minimizing the average drop height of materials, enhancing the pneumatic conveyor system's performance and simplifying maintenance while protecting the delivery system from weather damage.

Implementation Method 1

a pneumatic conveyor system used to fill a silo one hundred feet (thirty meters) tall

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPneumatic conveyance: Entrainment

Implementation Method 2

describes 'choking' as a problem in vertically installed pneumatic tubing that is the settling out downwardly of the entrained material from the entraining airflow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravitational settling: Sedimentation

Data Source

PatentUS10106338B2Material separator for a vertical pneumatic system

Publication Date: 2018.10.23 DOUGLAS PHILLIP ALLAN

AI summary

A delivery system deposits granular material being pneumatically conveyed within an entraining airflow to sequentially fill a storage silo from bottom to top. The delivery system has a series of vertical tubes and separators, vertically suspended and centered within the silo by a support, for conveying the entrained material upwardly from the bottom to the top of the silo. Each separator selectively separates the material from the airflow by choking the airflow entraining the material therewithin. Each separator automatically selects either to separate the entrained material therewithin and to deposit the separated material therefrom, or else to flow therethrough the entrained material without separation. The support has clamp assemblies, each having clamp halves and clamp brackets, wall brackets, and braces.