Self-cleaning tank with scraper blade assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tanks with sloped bottoms require labor-intensive and time-consuming cleaning processes, as solids often adhere to the bottom and need manual removal, posing hazards to workers who must enter the confined spaces.

Innovation Solution

A self-cleaning tank design featuring a scraper blade assembly slideably coupled to the bottom surface, which displaces solids through an aperture in the tank wall, allowing for automated cleaning without the need for workers to enter the tank.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If workers manually enter the tank to remove solids, then complete cleaning is achieved, but worker safety is compromised due to hazardous confined space conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning completenessVSAvoidworker safety

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The tank is equipped with a self-cleaning mechanism comprising a scraper blade assembly that automatically removes solids from the tank bottom without requiring worker entry. The scraper blade is movable along the bottom surface and can be actuated to displace solids through an aperture, enabling the system to clean itself while eliminating hazardous confined space entry requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Quantity of substance

If manual cleaning is used, then solids can be removed, but labor intensity and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesolids removalVSAvoidcleaning efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The manual mechanical cleaning process is replaced with an automated mechanical system. The scraper blade assembly is movable and can be actuated automatically to displace solids along the bottom surface and through the aperture, replacing manual labor with an automated mechanical mechanism that reduces both labor intensity and cleaning time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a scraper blade assembly is added to automate cleaning, then worker safety improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworker safetyVSAvoidtank structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning function is segmented into distinct components: a movable scraper blade assembly, a support structure with aperture, and an actuation mechanism. This segmentation allows the complex cleaning function to be broken down into manageable parts that can be independently designed, maintained, and replaced, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining safety benefits

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 self-cleaning tank reduces labor and time required for cleaning, eliminates the risk of hazardous confined space exposure for workers, and enables efficient removal of solids from the tank.

Implementation Method 1

a blade arranged to displace solids deposited on the bottom surface of the tank

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS12214957B2Self-cleaning tank

Publication Date: 2025.02.04 SPOKANE STAINLESS TECHNOLOGIES INC

AI summary

A tank, such as a fermentation tank, includes a scraper blade assembly slideably coupled to a bottom surface of the tank. The scraper blade assembly includes a blade arranged to displace solids deposited on the bottom surface of the tank out through an aperture arranged flush with the bottom surface of the tank.