Portable Vacuum Tank and Tilting Frame for Easy Emptying
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum systems for material collection, such as animal waste, lack portability and efficient emptying mechanisms, making them difficult to transport and utilize in various settings.
Innovation Solution
A portable vacuum system comprising a tank, engine, and transportation system with wheels, a swivel elbow, and a tiltable frame, along with features like a back door seal and accessible filter, designed for efficient material collection and easy transportation and emptying, utilizing rotational molding for component manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a vacuum system is designed for material collection, then collection capability is improved, but portability and ease of transport deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum system is divided into separable components including a removable tank, detachable hose assemblies, and modular frame sections. This segmentation allows the system to maintain full collection capability when assembled while enabling easy transport by disassembling into manageable parts that can be carried separately.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates dynamic elements such as wheels for mobile repositioning, a tiltable tank for easy emptying, and collapsible or removable components. These dynamic features enable the system to transition between operational and transport states, maintaining collection productivity while improving portability during movement.
2Reliability
If a tank is designed for stable operation, then operational reliability is improved, but ease of emptying deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The tank is designed with a tilting mechanism that allows it to remain stable during vacuum operation but can be tilted forward for easy emptying. This dynamic capability resolves the contradiction by providing operational stability when needed while enabling convenient emptying when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The tank can be completely detached from the frame and vacuum system, allowing it to be emptied separately at a convenient location. This extraction approach maintains operational reliability when attached while providing ease of emptying when removed and emptied independently.
3Strength
If a rigid structure is used for the frame, then structural strength is improved, but adaptability to different settings deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The frame is constructed from modular sections that can be assembled and configured for different operational settings. This segmented approach maintains structural strength through rigid connections while providing adaptability by allowing different configurations for various collection scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame design incorporates universal mounting points and adjustable components that enable the same rigid structure to accommodate different tank positions, hose configurations, and operational settings, thereby providing both strength and adaptability.
4Productivity
If a swivel elbow is added to ensure airflow, then vacuum efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The swivel elbow acts as an intermediary component between the tank and hose assembly, providing the necessary airflow path and flexibility. While it adds a component to the system, its simple rotational design minimizes complexity while significantly improving vacuum efficiency by ensuring unobstructed material flow.
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
Enables efficient collection and transport of materials, with the tiltable frame facilitating easy emptying and the swivel elbow ensuring unobstructed airflow, enhancing operational efficiency and adaptability across different environments.
Implementation Method 1
The engine is configured to generate a vacuum within the tank
Data Source
AI summary
Portable vacuum systems are provided. In one embodiment, a portable vacuum system includes a tank, an engine, and a transportation system. The engine is configured to generate a vacuum within the tank. The transportation system illustratively has one or more wheels and is configured to tilt the tank about an axis that is between a front and a back of the tank. In other embodiments, a portable vacuum system may also include a swivel elbow that connects the tank to a vacuum wand, a ledge that supports the engine, a back door that forms a seal with the tank along a curved lip, and a filter that is accessible through a threaded cover on the tank. Additionally, one or more of the components of a system may be made utilizing rotational molding.