Splash Guard for Concrete Buggy Reducing Spillage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power buggies experience significant splash and spillage when emptying materials like concrete due to their exposed buckets, and existing solutions are cumbersome and impractical for retrofitting standard hoppers.
Innovation Solution
A splash guard comprising bracket members attached to the bucket's interior side walls, a rod spanning the bucket, and a non-rigid apron attached to the rod, which covers the bucket when not pouring and deflects material to reduce spillage during pouring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the bucket is left exposed at the top for efficient receiving and dumping, then material can be easily loaded and unloaded, but significant splash and spillage occurs during emptying
Solution Approach 1:
The splash guard is divided into multiple segments (front wall, rear wall, and side walls) that can be independently positioned and adjusted. This segmentation allows each portion to effectively contain splash in its specific area while maintaining overall bucket accessibility for loading and unloading operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The splash guard employs adjustable and movable components including telescoping side walls with adjustable positioning holes, and a rear wall that can be positioned at different angles. This dynamic adjustability allows the guard to adapt to different material types and pouring conditions while maintaining productivity.
2Loss of substance
If a rigid cover is used to prevent spillage, then material loss is reduced, but the bucket cannot be efficiently accessed for dumping
Solution Approach 1:
The splash guard is designed with movable components rather than a fixed rigid cover. The side walls can telescope and be positioned at different heights, the rear wall can be adjusted to various angles, and the entire structure can be quickly removed when not needed, maintaining full bucket accessibility while preventing spillage during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The splash guard uses thin, lightweight wall structures that provide effective splash containment without the bulk and rigidity of traditional covers. These thin walls can be easily positioned and adjusted to create the necessary containment while allowing quick access to the bucket interior.
3Loss of substance
If traditional swinging tail gates are installed to reduce spillage, then material loss decreases, but the device becomes cumbersome and cannot be retrofitted to standard hoppers
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of a single complex swinging gate mechanism, the splash guard divides the containment function into separate modular segments (front wall, rear wall, side walls) that attach independently to the bucket. This simplifies the overall mechanism while achieving effective spillage reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The splash guard is designed as a universal accessory that can be attached to standard concrete buggy buckets without modification. The modular design with adjustable components allows it to adapt to different bucket sizes and configurations, making it broadly applicable across different power buggy models.
Data Source
AI summary
A splash guard for a power buggy bucket. A first bracket member has a first lower end and a first upper end, the first lower end adapted to attach to a bucket interior side wall of a bucket of a power buggy with the first upper end extending upward. A second bracket member has a second lower end and a second upper end, the second lower end adapted to attach to the bucket interior side wall in opposing relation to the first bracket member with the second upper end extending upward. A rod inserts into each bracket member. A non-rigid apron attaches to the rod, wherein the apron partially covers the bucket to deflect the pour.