Self-Propelled Manure Cart With Articulated Conveyor for Stall Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional methods for cleaning horse stalls, involving manual removal of manure and bedding, are labor-intensive and time-consuming, posing a significant need for a more efficient and less strenuous solution.
Innovation Solution
A self-propelled manure cart with a conveyor system, featuring adjustable conveyor belts and caster wheels, allows for automated manure collection, disposal, and bedding transport, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing physical labor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual methods using pitchforks and wheelbarrows are used for manure removal, then the system is simple and easy to manufacture, but the labor intensity and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations (pitchforks and wheelbarrows) with an automated conveyor belt system. The conveyor belt mechanically transports manure from the stall floor through a collection bin to the discharge area, eliminating the need for manual scooping and wheelbarrow transport. This substitution of manual mechanical systems with automated mechanical systems directly resolves the contradiction by improving productivity while accepting increased device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The manure handling system is designed to operate autonomously without requiring continuous manual intervention. The conveyor belt system continuously transports manure automatically, and the adjustable components allow the system to self-adapt to different stall configurations. This self-service capability improves productivity by eliminating the need for workers to manually collect and transport each load of manure.
2Ease of operation
If automated conveyor systems are implemented for manure handling, then labor intensity is reduced, but the initial cost and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates dynamically adjustable components, specifically the adjustable conveyor belt position and the adjustable discharge chute. These dynamic elements allow the system to adapt to different operational requirements and stall configurations without requiring complete system redesign. This dynamic adjustability improves ease of operation by enabling workers to optimize the system for different situations while maintaining a relatively manageable level of complexity through standardized adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor belt system is designed with multi-functionality, serving both manure removal and potential bedding distribution functions. The same conveyor infrastructure can be configured for different tasks by adjusting belt position and discharge locations. This universal design improves ease of operation by consolidating multiple functions into a single system, reducing the need for separate equipment while managing overall system complexity through integrated design.
3Productivity
If traditional manual methods are used for bedding replenishment, then the equipment required is simple, but the time and physical effort required are excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor belt system is designed to handle both manure removal and bedding distribution functions. The same conveyor infrastructure, when reconfigured, can transport fresh bedding material into the stall. This multi-functionality improves productivity by eliminating the need for separate bedding distribution equipment and manual bedding handling, while managing equipment complexity through the shared conveyor platform.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the manure removal function and bedding distribution function into a single integrated conveyor system. By combining these two previously separate operations into one piece of equipment, the system improves productivity for both tasks while controlling overall equipment complexity through consolidation rather than proliferation of separate machines.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a manure handling cart that includes a bin to collect manure and a first conveyor belt to transfer manure into the bin. The cart includes a bin to collect manure and wheels with an electric motor for propulsion. A first conveyor belt mounts to the cart to convey manure into the bin. The bin has a bottom opening and second conveyor belt to discharge manure. The first conveyor belt has four configurations: manure pickup resting on the floor, manure discharge from the second belt, centered storage, and side not in use. The first conveyor belt is mounted to an articulated frame that slides and pivots to adjust the first conveyor belt configuration. A piston pivots the frame at pivot points to configure the first belt. Brackets secure the first conveyor belt in the side storage and centered storage configurations.