Innovative Design of a Mechanized Grain Spreader and Leveler for In-Bin Drying Sylos

安大略省南部的农业是一个隐藏的巨大产业。这需要学术机构的关注，以提高他们的竞争力。温莎大学生产与工艺设计研究实验室和Devolder's Farms Inc.正在合作，为农业行业不断遇到的粮食储存问题提出一种创新的解决方案。收获的谷物需要储存在保持其质量的条件下。它必须干燥和充气。箱式干燥在农业生产中是一种常见的做法。加热空气从仓底向上注入，通过储存的湿谷物，使水分含量达到质量标准。干燥过程的成功取决于谷物在仓内如何均匀和均匀分布，而现有的谷物播种机并没有充分发挥这些功能。根据工业合作伙伴的说法，目前市场上可用的设备并不能完全满足所有标准，特别是在桶内所需的平整方面。现有的吊具也不够坚固和可靠；因此，在操作过程中经常需要进行频繁的维护和人为干预。由硕士生和博士生组成的研究小组进行了前期研究和调查。与公司的会议很少，包括到农场实地考察，以协调工作并了解更多遇到的问题。初步调查结果显示，应用创造性的解决问题的方法来克服目前的问题和目前进口设备使用和销售中遇到的问题的潜力。很少有设计方法被发现适合，因此，将组合在一起形成一个单一的连贯的整体设计方法。在开始时，将使用传统的设计方法，其中将执行客户和功能需求、设计和过程参数之间的映射。俄罗斯的创造性问题解决方法将在概念层面得到大量利用。各种计算机辅助设计工具将用于建模。其他设计方法和工具将用于进一步细化已开发的布局。

Agriculture in southern Ontario is a hidden giant industry. It needs the attention of academic institutions to increase their competitiveness. University of Windsor Production and Process Design research laboratory and Devolder's Farms Inc. are cooperating together to come up with an innovative solution for a problem farming industry is continuously experiencing with grain storage. Harvested grain needs to be stored in conditions that maintain its quality. It has to be dried and aerated. In-bin drying is a common practice in agriculture industry. Heated air is injected from the bin bottom up through stored wet grain to bring moisture content to quality standards. The success of the drying process depends on how uniform and leveled grain is distributed within the bin- functions that are not fully performed by available grain spreaders. According to industrial partner, current available devices in the market are not fully satisfying all criteria especially with regards to the required leveling within bins. Available spreaders are not robust and reliable enough too; hence, frequent maintenance and human intervention during operation are frequently resorted to. Preliminary research and surveys have been conducted by a research team led by principle investigator and composed of masters and doctoral students. Few meetings with company including field trips to the farm have been carried out to coordinate efforts and learn more about problems encountered. Initial findings show potential of applying inventive problem solving methods to overcome current problems and issues encountered with current import devices being used and marketed by Devolder's. Few design methods have been found fit and hence, would be combined together forming a single coherent overall design methodology. At the outset, a traditional design approach would be used, where mappings between customer and functional requirements, design and process parameters would be carried out. A Russian creative problem solving method would be heavily exploited at the conceptual level. A variety of computer aided design tools would be used for modeling. Other design methods and tools would be used to further detail the developed layouts.