Separator Assembly Deflector and Upstream Gas Outlet
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing grain vacuum systems struggle to effectively separate cereal grains, oil seeds, and pulse crops from air during transportation, as current separator designs are costly and inefficient, leading to unnecessary air being transported along with the grains.
Innovation Solution
A separator apparatus with a deflector and guide within a channel, where the deflector directs particles past a gas outlet port open in the upstream direction, and the guide directs gas to the outlet, allowing for efficient separation of particles from gas by leveraging the momentum of heavier particles and lighter gas flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a separator assembly with an inner surface shape that draws air off perpendicular to the direction of flow is used, then air separation efficiency is improved, but manufacturing cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a complex inner surface shape to draw air off perpendicular to flow, the invention inverts the approach by using a gas outlet port open in the upstream direction combined with a simple deflector. The deflector directs particles downstream past the gas outlet port, allowing air to be drawn off through the upstream-facing outlet, achieving effective separation with much simpler manufacturing requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces expensive, complex separator assemblies with simpler, cheaper components including a basic deflector and an upstream-facing gas outlet port. This substitution maintains separation functionality while dramatically reducing manufacturing costs, making the system more economically viable
2Productivity
If conventional separator designs are used, then air can be drawn off from the mixture, but the separation efficiency is insufficient leading to air being transported with grains
Solution Approach 1:
The deflector is positioned to preliminarily direct particles downstream past the gas outlet port before the air-particle mixture reaches the outlet. This preliminary action ensures that particles are already directed away from the upstream-facing outlet, preventing them from being drawn off with the air and ensuring effective separation
Solution Approach 2:
The deflector acts as an intermediary element between the incoming particle-air mixture and the gas outlet port. By introducing this intermediate component, the system achieves reliable separation as the deflector mediates the interaction between particles and the upstream-facing outlet, directing particles away while allowing air to pass through
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 solution enables efficient separation of grains from air, reducing manufacturing costs and improving the efficiency of grain transportation by ensuring only grains are transported, thereby enhancing the operational effectiveness of grain vacuum systems.
Implementation Method 1
the deflector is shaped to direct the particles downstream in the channel past the gas outlet port
Implementation Method 2
the guide is shaped to direct the gas to the gas outlet port
Implementation Method 3
a vacuum generator for drawing the combination of particles and gas into the channel and for drawing the gas out through the gas outlet port
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for effecting separation of particles from a mixture of particles and gas, the apparatus comprises: a housing that defines therethrough a channel; an inlet in said housing to admit the mixture of particles and gas into the channel; a deflector in the channel; and a gas outlet port substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the channel and downstream of the deflector; wherein the deflector is shaped to direct the particles past the gas outlet port. A method of separation is also disclosed.