Telescopic Screen Vacuum Arm for Corner Debris Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotary screen systems for vehicles like combines fail to ensure complete airflow exposure to engine cooling cores, particularly those located at the edges, leading to decreased cooling capacity due to debris accumulation and blocked airflow.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum duct with a telescopically coupled auxiliary brush that extends to the corners of the screen, sweeping debris into the path of the suction airflow, ensuring removal and maintaining airflow exposure through the use of a roller track and suction force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If a rotary screen with vacuum duct is used to remove debris, then debris removal is effective, but airflow to the corners of cooling cores is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The screen cleaning system is segmented into multiple functional zones: the vacuum duct covers the central area for debris removal, while the auxiliary brush extends to the corner areas that the vacuum duct cannot reach. This segmentation allows each component to address specific regions, ensuring complete coverage without blocking airflow to the cooling cores.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary brush acts as an intermediary component between the vacuum duct and the corner areas of the screen. It bridges the gap by extending into regions the vacuum duct cannot access, sweeping debris into the vacuum duct's path, thereby enabling complete screen coverage without compromising airflow exposure.
2Productivity
If the vacuum duct rotates around the screen, then debris can be removed from most areas, but corners of the screen remain unreachable
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges two cleaning mechanisms: the rotating vacuum duct for general debris removal and the auxiliary brush for corner coverage. By combining these functions, the system achieves complete screen coverage while maintaining high debris removal efficiency, as the brush extends into areas the vacuum duct cannot reach and sweeps debris into its path.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary brush is designed with telescopic capability, allowing it to dynamically extend and retract. During rotation, the brush extends to reach the corners of the screen, and retracts when not needed, enabling the system to adapt its coverage area dynamically to match the operational requirements of different screen regions.
3Temperature
If debris is removed from the screen, then cooling efficiency improves, but material may accumulate on outer edges without proper brush design
Solution Approach 1:
The brush is designed with specific geometric properties tailored to its function at the screen corners and outer edges. The brush geometry and positioning are optimized to push material inwardly from the outside of the screen, creating a localized cleaning action at the edges that prevents material accumulation while maintaining overall cooling efficiency.
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 allows for uniform airflow to engine cooling cores, enhancing cooling performance and enabling the use of higher heat rejection cores within the same size envelope by effectively removing debris and maintaining airflow exposure.
Implementation Method 1
the material is removed by the suction imparted by the vacuum duct
Implementation Method 2
The position of the brush is maintained by a roller which rolls in a track which surrounds the screen
Implementation Method 3
The suction force of the engine fan holds the material in its place on the screen
Data Source
AI summary
A screen cleaning system cleans debris from a material catching screen surrounded by a frame. A hollow vacuum arm which moves over the screen. The arm has a slot in a side which is adjacent to the screen. The arm includes an inner arm pivotally coupled to a duct and an outer arm which movable with respect to the inner arm. The arm is moved by an actuator mechanism which includes a first pulley coupled to a drive shaft, a second pulley coupled to an end of the arm, a belt drivingly coupling the first pulley to the second pulley. The outer arm is slidably coupled to the inner arm and a spring is biased to urge the outer arm radially inwardly. A track is formed by the frame and a roller rides along the track and is rotatably coupled to an end of the outer arm.