Rotating Helical Leveling Device for Agricultural Tank Product Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural product delivery systems face inefficiencies due to product accumulation and uneven distribution within tanks, leading to blockages and starvation in certain areas, especially when operated on sloped surfaces, which existing mechanical agitators often fail to address effectively.
Innovation Solution
A product leveling system with rotatable helical coils mounted at the bottom of the tank, driven by sensors that detect emptying and starving sections, ensures uniform distribution of agricultural products by rotating the coils to redistribute material from accumulation zones to depletion zones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple metering devices are installed in the tank, then product delivery capability is improved, but product accumulation and uneven distribution occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a rotating leveling device that dynamically redistributes product within the tank. The device rotates to shift product from accumulation zones to depletion zones, transforming a static storage problem into a dynamic solution that maintains uniform product distribution across multiple metering devices throughout operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs sensors to detect product levels and distribution patterns within the tank. This feedback information controls the rotation of the leveling device, creating a closed-loop system that responds to actual product distribution conditions and adjusts operation to maintain uniformity across all metering devices.
2Ease of operation
If mechanical agitators are positioned within the tank, then product agitation is improved, but inability to effectively break up distant agglomerations occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The leveling device rotates continuously or intermittently to dynamically reach different zones within the tank. This rotational motion enables the single agitator to effectively break up agglomerations at various locations around the tank perimeter, overcoming the limitation of fixed-position agitators that can only effectively agitate material immediately adjacent to their location.
3Ease of operation
If the tank is operated on a sloped surface, then mobility is improved, but product accumulation at the bottom of the slope occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating leveling device actively counteracts the gravitational effect of sloped surfaces by redistributing product from the low point (bottom of slope) to higher points in the tank. This dynamic redistribution maintains uniform product distribution even when the tank itself is positioned on a slope, allowing the system to maintain both mobility and uniform distribution.
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 enhances the efficiency and convenience of product application by preventing blockages and ensuring consistent distribution, minimizing product starvation and accumulation issues, even on sloped surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
at least one helical coil located adjacent to the bottom of the tank that rotates to move product from zones prone to accumulation during the emptying of the tank to zones prone to product depletion or starving
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a product leveling system within at least one tank or particulate material supply compartment that helps to encourage uniform movement of an agricultural product out of the bottom of the compartment. More specifically, the invention relates to a product leveling system that helps monitor areas in which agricultural product is prone to starving and also prone to accumulation, such that quantities of the agricultural product can be diverted from the areas prone to accumulation to the areas prone to starving. For instance, at least one leveling device having a driving shaft and a helical coil may be rotatably mounted within the compartment and rotated to encourage agricultural product to be moved from areas of accumulation to areas where the agricultural product is more quickly removed, resulting in starving. The product leveling system may include three coils mounted about the compartment.