Turbine Blade Box Structure for Animal Feed Dispensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing animal bedding and fodder dispensing machines face issues with rigidity, deformation, and jamming due to dense and wet products, leading to inefficient chopping and potential collisions, as well as accumulation and imbalance problems.

Innovation Solution

The machine features blades formed by a box structure with lateral closing plates connected to the disc, providing increased rigidity and allowing for wider, heavier knives, ensuring smooth product flow and reduced accumulation, while maintaining dynamic balance during rotation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If thin flat sheets are used as turbine blades, then the device complexity is reduced, but the rigidity and strength of the blades deteriorate, causing deformation under dense products

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblade structure complexityVSAvoidblade rigidity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The blade is segmented into multiple components: a central plate, multiple radial branches, and lateral closing plates. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while collectively providing the necessary rigidity and strength to handle dense products without deformation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The blade employs a composite structure combining flat plates with box-shaped sections formed by lateral closing plates. This composite design integrates the simplicity of flat sheets with the rigidity of enclosed sections, creating a blade that is both structurally sound and manufacturable

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of manufacture

If simple flat blades are used, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the chopping efficiency of dense and wet products deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblade manufacturing simplicityVSAvoidchopping efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The blade is divided into a central plate, radial branches, and lateral closing plates that form box sections. This segmentation enables efficient chopping of dense products while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through standardized plate components that can be assembled systematically

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The blade transitions from a two-dimensional flat sheet to a three-dimensional box structure by adding lateral closing plates. This dimensional enhancement increases the blade's capacity to handle and chop dense, wet, long-stranded products efficiently while retaining ease of manufacture through plate assembly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Device complexity

If hollow cylinder and flat plates with sharp edges are used, then the device complexity is reduced, but product flow smoothness deteriorates, causing accumulation and imbalance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveturbine structure complexityVSAvoidproduct flow smoothness
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using a hollow cylinder with sharp edges that creates geometric asperities, the invention uses a solid plate structure with smooth surfaces. This inversion of the design approach eliminates product accumulation points and ensures smooth flow from the center to the periphery, preventing imbalance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The plate structure with smooth surfaces creates a homogeneous flow environment for products, eliminating the geometric asperities and sharp edges that cause accumulation. This homogeneous design ensures uniform product distribution and maintains turbine dynamic balance during operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #33Homogeneity

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

This design enables efficient and homogeneous chopping of large volumes of difficult products with minimal deformation, reducing the risk of jamming and maintaining turbine balance, resulting in improved operational reliability and efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

the products are moved towards a periphery of the turbine by sliding along the blades

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

The blades of the turbine ensure the chopping of the products

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 3

By the wind tunnel effect due in particular to the blades, the chopped products are then ejected through a chute

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWind tunnel effect: Bernoulli Effect

Data Source

PatentEP2871930B1Distributing machine
Publication Date: 2017.03.29 KUHN AUDUREAU
  • EP2871930B1 patent drawing
  • EP2871930B1 patent drawing
  • EP2871930B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to a distribution machine (1) for the distribution of products for animals, said machine comprising a skip (2) having an opening (11) that opens into a casing (10) comprising a first wall (15) next to the opening (11) and a second wall (16) at a distance from the first wall (15). A turbine (17) is mounted in the casing (10) and can rotate about a rotation shaft (21), said turbine (17) comprising a disk (18) with blades (19) and cutters (20). According to the invention, the turbine (17) comprises a plate (39) oriented towards the opening (11) and at a distance from the disk (18), as well as comprising a central part (40) at a distance from the disk (18) and at least one arm (41). The at least one arm (41) extends from the central part (40) in a substantially radial direction of the disk (18). Moreover, said at least one arm (41) of the plate (39) is connected to the disk (18) by two side closure sheets (42) in order to form a case, and at least one blade (19) of the turbine (17) is formed by the case.