Bulk Seed Cart Conveyor Assembly for Precise Chute Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Accurately positioning the discharge chute of a bulk seed cart over a planter seed tank opening is difficult, often requiring repositioning of the planter or seed cart, and flexible spouts or hoses may damage seeds due to increased falling distance.
Innovation Solution
A bulk seed cart with a dual conveyer assembly that is adjustable about three axes, including a vertical and two horizontal axes, allowing for quick and easy alignment of the discharge chute over the planter seed tank opening without repositioning the cart or planter, using hydraulic actuators and linkages for precise control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If flexible spouts or hoses are added to the discharge chute to help with alignment, then ease of operation is improved, but the falling distance of seeds increases causing seed damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the conveyer assembly movable and adjustable rather than fixed. The conveyer can be positioned at different locations along the cart and adjusted laterally, allowing dynamic alignment with the seed tank opening without requiring flexible spouts or hoses that would increase seed falling distance.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyer system is segmented into multiple adjustable components including the inner conveyer that can be positioned at different locations and the outer conveyer that can be adjusted laterally. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of each component to achieve precise alignment while maintaining a rigid structure that minimizes seed damage.
2Strength
If the conveyer is made rigid for structural strength, then strength is improved, but adaptability to different positioning requirements deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by making the rigid conveyer structure dynamically adjustable through multiple positioning mechanisms. The inner conveyer can be positioned at different locations along the cart, and the outer conveyer can be adjusted laterally, allowing the rigid structure to adapt to different positioning requirements while maintaining its strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyer assembly is designed with multi-functionality to serve both structural strength and positioning flexibility. The same rigid conveyer structure can be adjusted to different positions and orientations, making it universally applicable for various seed tank locations and configurations.
3Measurement precision
If the cart and planter are repositioned to achieve alignment, then positioning accuracy is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to time loss
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of repositioning the entire cart or planter, the patent uses a dynamically adjustable conveyer assembly that can be quickly repositioned relative to the fixed cart and planter. This allows alignment to be achieved by moving only the conveyer components, significantly reducing the time required and improving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyer assembly is designed to be pre-adjustable to multiple positions, allowing the operator to quickly select and set the appropriate position for alignment with the seed tank opening without time-consuming repositioning of heavy equipment.
Data Source
AI summary
A bulk seed cart has a dual conveyor system adjustable about three axes to provide easy alignment of the conveyor discharge chute over a planter seed tank fill opening. The conveyor assembly is adjustable about a vertical axis between field and transport positions, about a first horizontal axis for laterally extending and retracting the discharge chute, and about a second horizontal axis for raising and lowering the discharge chute. The inner and outer conveyors of the conveyor assembly are linked to move in unison in a lateral direction about a first horizontal pivot axis. The outer conveyer is pivotal about the second horizontal axis and the vertical axis.