Self-Propelled Screw Conveyor for Grain Bulk Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing grain conveying devices, both stationary and mobile, are cumbersome, expensive, and inefficient, particularly when dealing with large grain bulks, as they require manual operation and are impeded by material heaps, leading to uneven drying and high manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A self-propelled device with a screw conveyor that acts as both a conveying mechanism and a drive unit, utilizing adjustable inhibiting and control surfaces to optimize conveying capacity and drive power, allowing for compact and cost-effective operation, and incorporating recoil technology to enhance movement and direction control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a mobile device with screw conveyor is used to convey grain, then the device can move independently through stored grain, but the device requires two powerful drive units which are expensive and difficult to move
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the conveying function and the driving function into a single screw conveyor unit. The screw conveyor both conveys grain from bottom to top and generates propulsive force through its interaction with the grain mass, eliminating the need for separate drive units while maintaining independent mobility
Solution Approach 2:
The screw conveyor serves multiple functions simultaneously: it conveys grain vertically, propels the device horizontally through the grain mass, and can be adjusted to control the direction of movement. This multi-functionality reduces the overall complexity of the device while maintaining operational capabilities
2Productivity
If the screw conveyor conveys grain over considerable height, then conveying capacity is achieved, but the drive units become very solid and difficult to move
Solution Approach 1:
The drive mechanism is integrated into the screw conveyor structure itself, utilizing the grain mass as both the conveyed material and the reaction medium for propulsion. This eliminates the need for heavy external drive units while maintaining the capability to convey grain to considerable heights
3Productivity
If existing mobile devices are used for large grain bulks, then grain can be circulated, but the driving speed is too low and movement is impeded by heaps of material
Solution Approach 1:
The screw conveyor angle is made adjustable, allowing the device to adapt to different grain bulk conditions and heap configurations. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the device to maintain optimal driving speed and circulation capacity by optimizing the interaction between the screw conveyor and the grain mass
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes adjustable parameters including screw conveyor angle and rotation speed to optimize performance. By changing these parameters, the device can overcome material heaps and maintain high driving speed while circulating large grain bulks efficiently
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 device achieves increased circulation capacity and efficiency by optimizing the ratio of conveying capacity to drive power, allowing for more grain to be circulated quickly and evenly, while reducing manual labor and manufacturing costs, and overcoming obstacles like material heaps.
Implementation Method 1
a driven screw conveyor (3) which penetrates the support body (1) and is rotatably mounted in the support body (1)
Implementation Method 2
The blocking and control plate (8), which is in contact with the grain, is designed and arranged in terms of its surface area and its distance from the screw conveyor (3) in such a way that the support body (1) counteracts the circumferential forces of the screw conveyor (3)
Implementation Method 3
The conveyor screw (3) is preferably arranged outside of the geometric center of the support surface (5) and aligned in a special way at an angle to the vertical. This angle determines the size of a horizontal force component FH and a vertical force component FV on the screw conveyor (3), which are set as opposing forces to the conveying force of the screw conveyor (3). The horizontal force component FH determines the direction of movement of the mobile device.
Data Source
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AI summary
A device for conveying bulk material, comprising at least one driven screw conveyor (3) and at least one escapement counteracting the forces of the screw conveyor (3) and the mass forces of the device, is to be refined such that it drives itself and can universally deliver bulk material. This is achieved in that the at least one screw conveyor (3) is oriented, or can be oriented, in the direction of travel at an angle greater than 0º to the vertical.