Portable Drive-Over Hopper Simultaneous Unloading
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing drive-over hoppers require precise alignment of vehicle outlets with the hopper grates, which is time-consuming, especially for double belly dump trucks or trailers with two material outlets, leading to inefficiencies in unloading processes.
Innovation Solution
A portable drive-over hopper system featuring transverse and longitudinal conveyors with foldable ramps and a fin/plate configuration that allows simultaneous unloading of both outlets without precise alignment, utilizing motors and sensors to manage material flow and alignment automatically.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If precise alignment of vehicle outlets with hopper grates is required, then material can be emptied without spilling, but unloading time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The hopper is divided into multiple receiving areas with multiple grates, allowing different outlets to be positioned over different grates simultaneously. This segmentation enables parallel unloading of multiple outlets without requiring precise alignment, thus reducing unloading time while preventing material spillage.
Solution Approach 2:
The hopper is designed with multiple grates that can accommodate various outlet positions and configurations. This multi-functional design allows the hopper to receive material from different vehicle types and outlet positions without requiring precise alignment, solving both the spillage prevention and time reduction requirements.
2Device complexity
If a single grate is used for unloading, then the hopper structure is simple, but double belly dump trucks must unload outlets sequentially
Solution Approach 1:
The hopper is divided into multiple receiving areas, each with its own grate. This segmentation allows simultaneous unloading of multiple outlets from double belly dump trucks, significantly improving productivity while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that builds on the basic hopper design.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the hopper is designed for fixed installation in a ground pit, then structural stability is high, but portability and relocation capability are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The hopper is designed as a portable structure that can be easily assembled, disassembled, and relocated. This dynamic design allows the hopper to be moved to different work sites while maintaining structural stability during operation, providing both portability and stability requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a first transverse conveyor, first and second pairs of foldable parallel ramps, and first and second foldable longitudinal conveyors. The transverse conveyor moves material in a first direction. The first pair of foldable parallel ramps extend from a first side of the transverse conveyor. The first foldable longitudinal conveyor is positioned between the ramps of the first pair, and is configured to move material toward the transverse conveyor in a second orthogonal direction. The second pair of foldable parallel ramps extend from a second side of the transverse conveyor and are in alignment with the ramps of the first pair. The second foldable longitudinal conveyor is positioned between the ramps of the second pair and is configured to move material in a third direction that is substantially opposite the second direction.