Rigid Chain Grain Probe Structure for Truck Movement Tolerance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing grain sampling probes break when grain trucks move during sampling due to unintended movement, causing downtime for refitting.

Innovation Solution

A rigid chain probe system with a chassis, reel assembly, and interlocking chain links that allow for flexible movement and prevent rotation in one direction while maintaining structural integrity, featuring anti-rotation protrusions and tensioning straps to maintain tension and stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a rigid probe is used to ensure structural integrity during sampling, then probe strength is improved, but the probe breaks when grain trucks move during sampling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprobe strengthVSAvoidprobe reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The probe is divided into multiple rigid segments connected by flexible joints, allowing each segment to maintain structural integrity while the overall probe can flex to accommodate truck movement without breaking

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The probe transitions from a completely rigid structure to a dynamic structure with flexible joints that can adapt to movement, enabling the probe to withstand truck motion while maintaining sampling capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If a flexible probe is used to allow movement during sampling, then adaptability to truck movement is improved, but the probe lacks structural integrity and breaks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to movementVSAvoidprobe strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the probe have different properties: the segments are rigid for strength while the joints are flexible for movement adaptation, creating local quality variations that satisfy both requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If the probe is made rigid to prevent breaking, then probe strength is improved, but the probe cannot accommodate unintended grain movement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprobe strengthVSAvoidflexibility to grain movement

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Productivity

If the probe assembly is refitted after breaking to continue operation, then operational continuity is attempted, but downtime increases productivity loss

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesampling continuityVSAvoiddowntime for refitting

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The probe is designed with extra segments and joints that can be quickly deployed or replaced in advance, allowing rapid restoration of sampling capability after breakage without lengthy refitting procedures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The modular probe design allows broken segments to be quickly discarded and replaced with identical replacement segments, enabling rapid recovery of operational capability with minimal downtime

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Data Source

PatentUS20250362208A1Rigid chain probe system for grain sampling

Publication Date: 2025.11.27 HRSW LLC

AI summary

A probe structure for driving a probe into granulate is described within. The probe structure includes a chassis with a lower frame, a midframe, a horizontal rail, and a probe opening. The structure has a reel assembly with a reel sprocket on the horizontal rail, a drive sprocket, a motor coupled to the drive sprocket. The probe support is disposed around the reel assembly and has interlocking chain links with an anti-rotation protrusion, a rotation indentation, and a drive pin extending across a width of the chain link to engage the drive wheel. The probe is located within a central space of each of the plurality of chain links.