Venturi Suction Generator for Work Vehicle Seed Delivery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Seeding work vehicles face inefficiencies in delivering commodities like seed and fertilizer due to limitations in existing metering and delivery systems, particularly in creating sufficient suction to prevent backflow and maintain atmospheric pressure in commodity containers, leading to potential clogging and leakage.
Innovation Solution
A commodity delivery system for work vehicles incorporating a venturi suction generator with a flow passage featuring a restricting section and an expanding section, utilizing a compressed air source to create suction and an airstream for efficient conveyance of metered commodities, and a control system to manage airflow, allowing for unpressurized commodity containers and reduced pressure drops.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a traditional metering system is used to deliver commodities, then the commodity can be metered out at a predetermined rate, but the system creates pressure drops and requires pressurized containers which lead to sealing requirements and potential leakage
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using positive pressure to move commodity through the delivery system, the patent inverts the approach by using negative pressure (suction) generated by the venturi effect. The venturi suction generator creates a pressure differential that draws commodity through the delivery system without requiring pressurized containers, thereby eliminating sealing requirements and potential leakage while maintaining predetermined metering rates
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies pneumatic principles by using compressed air introduced through the venturi suction generator to create a controlled pressure differential. This pneumatic system generates suction that moves commodity through the delivery system, replacing mechanical pressurization systems and their associated sealing requirements
2Reliability
If compressed air is used to create suction in the venturi suction generator, then backflow is prevented and atmospheric pressure in containers is maintained, but the system requires additional components and control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The venturi suction generator is designed to automatically regulate airflow and pressure differential without requiring external control mechanisms. The compressed air introduced through the venturi creates a self-regulating suction effect that maintains atmospheric pressure in containers and prevents backflow inherently through the physics of the venturi effect, eliminating the need for complex control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The venturi suction generator acts as an intermediary device between the compressed air source and the commodity delivery system. It transforms the compressed air into a controlled suction force that prevents backflow and maintains pressure equilibrium, serving as a mediator that simplifies the overall system 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
The system ensures efficient and clog-free delivery of commodities by maintaining atmospheric pressure in containers, reducing the need for sealing and minimizing pressure drops, thereby enhancing operational efficiency and preventing backflow.
Implementation Method 1
The flow passage includes a venturi profile with a restricting section and an expanding section
Implementation Method 2
The fan is configured to blow positive pressure air to create the airstream
Implementation Method 3
the compressed air source is configured to provide pressurized air through the flow passage to create suction that sucks the metered commodity away from the metering system
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A work vehicle (100) and a method of operating the work vehicle (100) is disclosed. The work vehicle comprising: a metering system (130) to meter a commodity out from a commodity container (128) at a predetermined rate; and a delivery system (132) with a run (133) configured to convey the metered commodity, the run comprising: an upstream flow structure having an inlet (166) that is configured to receive the metered commodity from the metering system, an upstream flow portion (142) including a suction generator structure (168) with a flow passage (182) that is in fluid communication with the inlet (166), the flow passage including a venturi profile (181); a downstream flow structure (170) that is fluidly connected to the upstream flow structure to receive the metered commodity from the flow passage (182), the downstream flow structure configured to receive an airstream (153) that conveys the metered commodity in a downstream direction through the downstream flow structure; and a compressed air source (194) that is fluidly connected to the suction generator structure (168) and configured to provide pressurized air through the flow passage (182) to create suction that sucks the metered commodity away from the metering system and toward the downstream flow structure (170).