Trailer Hopper With Dual Conveyor Belts for Selectable Dumping Modes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing trailers for transporting and dumping particulate materials, such as rear dump and bottom dump trailers, face challenges in efficiently spreading materials evenly during dumping, particularly on roads, due to limitations in gate operation and conveyor belt systems.
Innovation Solution
A trailer design that incorporates a 4-walled, rectangular hopper with reinforced side walls, featuring a rear gate and bottom gate that can be hydraulically, pneumatically, or manually operated, along with flexible conveyor belts and a V-form spreader to distribute materials evenly during dumping, allowing for both rear and bottom dumping modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a rear dump trailer is used to dump particulate materials, then materials can be dumped as a pile from the rear, but the materials cannot be spread evenly into a layer of consistent thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The hopper is divided into two functional zones: a rear dumping zone with a rear gate for pile dumping, and a bottom dumping zone with a bottom gate and conveyor belts for layered dumping. This segmentation allows the same trailer to perform both rear pile dumping and bottom layered dumping by selecting which gate to open, thereby achieving consistent layer thickness when needed while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The trailer incorporates movable conveyor belts that can be dynamically adjusted during operation. The conveyor belts are driven by variable speed motors that can be controlled to match the trailer's forward speed, allowing the belts to dynamically spread materials evenly as the trailer moves forward, achieving consistent layer thickness adaptively.
2Manufacturing precision
If a bottom dump trailer is used to spread materials into a layer, then consistent thickness can be achieved, but the device complexity increases due to conveyor belt systems
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor belts serve multiple functions: they convey materials from the front to the rear of the hopper, spread materials evenly during bottom dumping, and can be adjusted to accommodate different material types and dumping conditions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized equipment, thereby managing complexity while achieving consistent layer thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor belt system incorporates variable speed control that allows the belt speed to be adjusted as a parameter to match the trailer's forward speed. This parameter adjustment enables the belts to effectively spread materials at different speeds and conditions, achieving consistent layer thickness without requiring overly complex mechanical structures.
3Adaptability or versatility
If gate operation is limited in existing trailers, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to control dumping modes (rear vs bottom) is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The gate system is segmented into two independent gates: a rear gate for rear dumping and a bottom gate for bottom dumping. Each gate can be independently operated and controlled, allowing the operator to select the desired dumping mode by opening only the relevant gate. This segmentation provides versatility in dumping mode selection while keeping each individual gate mechanism relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The dual gate system is designed to be self-service in the sense that each gate serves its specific dumping mode independently without requiring complex interlocking mechanisms. The gates can be opened and closed independently based on operational needs, providing adaptability while avoiding unnecessary complexity in gate operation control.
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
Enables efficient and controlled dumping of particulate materials, ensuring consistent thickness and even distribution, reducing material waste and improving operational efficiency in transporting and depositing rubble, stone, gravel, or sand.
Implementation Method 1
The rear gate is moved using a double acting piston and cylinder arrangement driven from a hydraulic system tailored for use by trailer sub-systems
Implementation Method 2
The conveyor belts are each manufactured as continuous belts extending around spaced rollers, one of which is a drive roller
Implementation Method 3
Other known forms of spreader mechanism, such as a spinner, can be mounted under the bottom opening for distributing material
Data Source
AI summary
A trailer assembly has a frame, wheels attached to and bearing the frame and a hopper mounted on the frame. A front conveyor belt is mounted in a front part of the hopper and is operable to rearwardly convey contents of the hopper overlying the belt. A rear conveyor belt is mounted in a rear part of the hopper and is operable in a first mode to rearwardly convey contents of the hopper overlying the rear belt and is operable in a second mode to forwardly convey contents of the hopper overlying the second conveyor belt. Depending on the direction of conveyance of the rear conveyor belt, the two conveyor belts can be operated either to convey contents for dumping through a rear gate or to convey contents for dumping through a bottom gate.