1982 Volume 43 Issue 4 Pages 567-574
The curve of quickest descent was applied to improve the efficiency of the transport of agricultural products (grains). The course was produced with vinyl pipe. The theory and the speed characteristics in free transport and forced transport by ventilating method were studied. The results were as follows:
(1) When the sphere moves in the course by only potential energy and slides with roll (tan φ>3.5μ), the equation of motion is shown by the equation (14). If it rolls without slide (tan φ<3.5μ), the equation of motion can be shown by the equation (18). If the coefficient of friction is small, the equation of motion of the whole course can be approximately expressed with the equation (14). The results of analysis of this equation by Milne's method are shown in Fig. 3.
(2) The relation between the arrival ratio and the coefficient of profile is almost linear as shown in Fig. 6. The distribution of speed (Fig. 7) agreed with the theoretical results in the case of sphere.
(3) The insufficient energy caused from frictional and air resistance in the course was compensated by blower. The distribution of speeds were as showen in Fig. 8. It is recognized that the transport speeds correlated with the coefficient of profile and the coefficient of static friction.
(4) The efficiency of transport energy, defined by the equation (20), was compared in the case of curve of quickest descent and straight pipe. If the coefficient of profile is high (above ζ=0.8), the curve of quickest descent is advantageous to the straight pipe.
