Flexible plugging device suitable for closed stock bin

Abstract

The flexible plugging device comprises a plug, a jacking shaft, an elastic buffering unit, an adjusting unit and a connecting base, one end of the jacking shaft is connected with the plug, the other end of the jacking shaft is connected with the connecting base through a lifting adjusting unit, the lifting adjusting unit is used for driving the jacking shaft to ascend and descend, and the elastic buffering unit is used for buffering the elastic buffering unit. The position of the plug is adjusted; the elastic buffering unit is arranged between the lower end of the jacking shaft and the lifting adjusting unit and used for buffering impact force generated when the plug blocks the outlet of the stock bin. Compared with the prior art, the plugging device in the scheme has the advantages that the adaptability is greatly improved, and the maintenance cost and potential safety hazards are greatly reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of industrial processing equipment technology, and in particular relates to a flexible sealing device suitable for sealed silos. Background Technology

[0002] In modern industrial production, silos that continuously convey materials are widely used for storing and transporting various bulk materials, such as coal, ore, cement, and grain. During use, these silos require sealing at their outlets according to storage or transportation needs. Currently, the main methods for sealing silos are as follows: 1. Mechanical sealing: Gate valves use the movement of a gate to open and close the silo outlet, or sector valves use the rotation of a sector valve plate to open and close the silo; 2. Pneumatic sealing: Air-filled sealing rings are installed at the silo outlet, and the silo is opened and closed by inflating and deflating air; 3. Hydraulic sealing: Hydraulic flap valves use a hydraulic cylinder to drive a flapping plate to open and close the silo.

[0003] Currently, there are many limitations to the sealing methods used at the outlet of material silos. Mechanical sealing, although simple in structure, has poor sealing performance and is prone to leakage. Pneumatic sealing has good sealing performance, but requires an air source and is costly. Hydraulic sealing is suitable for sealing silos with large flow rates of materials, but its sealing performance is generally poor. In summary, the above sealing methods have many problems, such as poor adaptability, unsatisfactory sealing effect, single function that cannot meet the needs of modern industrial production, and rigid sealing devices that are prone to wear and tear and have high maintenance costs. They are difficult to meet the requirements of closed material silos in terms of efficiency, environmental protection, and safety. Utility Model Content

[0004] In view of the shortcomings of the prior art described above, the purpose of this utility model is to provide a flexible sealing device suitable for closed silos, which solves the problems of poor adaptability, single function, high maintenance cost, and safety hazards of the existing silo outlet sealing methods.

[0005] To achieve the above and other related objectives, the technical solution of this utility model is as follows:

[0006] A flexible sealing device suitable for sealed silos, comprising:

[0007] Connector;

[0008] A plug is used to seal the outlet of a silo.

[0009] A lifting shaft, one end of which is connected to the plug, and the other end of which is connected to the connecting seat via a lifting adjustment unit. The lifting adjustment unit is used to drive the lifting shaft to move up and down to adjust the position of the plug.

[0010] An elastic buffer unit is disposed between the lower end of the lifting shaft and the lifting adjustment unit to buffer the impact force when the plug seals the outlet of the hopper.

[0011] Optionally, the adjusting unit includes a lead screw, a nut, and a transmission structure. The nut is connected to the elastic buffer unit, and the transmission structure is connected to the lead screw. The lead screw and the nut are screwed together, and the transmission structure is used to drive the lead screw to rotate, so that the nut moves along the lead screw.

[0012] Optionally, the connecting seat is provided with a guide plate, the nut has tangential edges on both sides that cooperate with the guide plate, the nut can move along the guide plate, and the lead screw is a self-locking lead screw.

[0013] Optionally, the transmission structure includes a servo motor, a reducer, and a magnetohydrodynamic seal. The input of the reducer is connected to the output shaft of the servo motor, the lead screw is connected to the reducer, and the magnetohydrodynamic seal is installed below the connecting seat to prevent leakage of the medium inside the reducer or the servo motor.

[0014] Optionally, limit switches are provided at both ends of the lead screw's stroke, and the limit switches can automatically shut down the transmission structure.

[0015] Optionally, the elastic buffer unit includes a nut connecting seat, a spring, and a fixing member. The nut connecting seat is fixedly connected to the nut. The lower end of the lifting shaft is slidably connected to the fixing member and located at the upper end of the spring. The lower end of the lifting shaft has a limiting block that can prevent the lifting shaft from sliding out of the fixing member.

[0016] Optionally, the upper part of the plug has a conical structure, and the conical surface of the upper part of the plug contacts the outlet of the hopper to achieve a sealed hopper.

[0017] Optionally, the plug is equipped with a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, and an image sensor.

[0018] Optionally, the upper end of the lifting shaft is a ball head, and the plug is provided with a spherical groove that mates with the ball head. The ball head is fixed in the ball head groove by a limiting plate, and the lifting shaft and the limiting plate are in clearance fit.

[0019] Optionally, a spiral blade is installed in the middle of the lifting shaft, and the spiral angle of the spiral blade is greater than 60°.

[0020] This invention discloses a flexible sealing device suitable for sealed silos. The device uses a plug placed at the silo's outlet to seal the silo, making it suitable for silos of various structures and highly adaptable. The elastic buffer unit flexibly buffers the pressure when the plug seals the silo outlet, preventing damage to the sealing device and its components from excessively fast material falling from silos with the plug installed at a high position. Furthermore, the sealing structure employs a mechanical mechanism, resulting in lower maintenance costs and higher safety compared to pneumatic and hydraulic sealing mechanisms. Compared to existing technologies, the sealing device in this solution offers significantly improved adaptability while greatly reducing maintenance costs and safety hazards. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a flexible sealing device suitable for a sealed silo, as an example of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 2 This is another structural schematic diagram of a flexible sealing device suitable for a sealed silo, as an example of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the elastic buffer unit in a flexible sealing device suitable for a sealed silo, as an example of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the plug in a flexible sealing device suitable for a sealed silo, as an example of the present invention.

[0025] The reference numerals in the embodiments include:

[0026] 10 plugs

[0027] Lifting shaft 20, ball head 21, spiral blade 22

[0028] Elastic buffer unit 30, fixing component 31, spring 32, nut connecting seat 33

[0029] Lead screw 40, limit switch, nut 41, trimmer 411, guide plate 42, transmission structure 43, magnetic fluid seal 44, connecting seat 50. Detailed Implementation

[0030] In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention can be practiced without one or more of these details. In other instances, certain technical features well-known in the art have not been described in order to avoid confusion with the present invention.

[0031] It should be understood that this utility model can be implemented in different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, providing these embodiments will make the disclosure thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of this utility model to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same components throughout. Terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "middle," and "a" used in this specification are merely for clarity of description and are not intended to limit the scope of implementation of this utility model. Changes or adjustments to their relative relationships, without substantially altering the technical content, should also be considered within the scope of implementation of this utility model.

[0032] The specific structure of a flexible sealing device suitable for sealed silos in this utility model is described in conjunction with [reference needed]. Figures 1 to 4 The device includes a plug 10, a lifting shaft 20, an elastic buffer unit 30, an adjusting unit, and a connecting seat 50. The plug 10 is used to seal the outlet of the hopper. One end of the lifting shaft 20 is connected to the plug 10, and the other end is connected to the connecting seat 50 through the lifting adjusting unit. The lifting adjusting unit is used to drive the lifting shaft 20 to move up and down to adjust the position of the plug 10. The elastic buffer unit 30 is disposed between the lower end of the lifting shaft 20 and the lifting adjusting unit to buffer the impact force when the plug 10 seals the outlet of the hopper. The connecting seat 50 is disposed at the adjusting unit and is used to install the adjusting unit. Specifically, the connecting seat 50 can be installed on the mechanical structure below the hopper, and the sealing device can be installed on the connecting seat 50. The connecting seat 50 facilitates the installation of the sealing device and its use after installation.

[0033] The adjustment unit can be composed of existing power and drive mechanisms, such as a motor and a crank-rocker mechanism. The motor controls the crank-rocker mechanism to move the lifting shaft 20 and the plug 10, thereby moving the plug 10 to the outlet of the hopper and sealing it. The elastic buffer unit 30 uses a flexible or elastic material to buffer the pressure at the lower end of the lifting shaft 20.

[0034] In practical implementation, this sealing device is installed below the outlet of the silo, possibly within a silo or other container, and is fixed in a suitable position via the connecting seat 50. During use, the position of the lifting shaft 20 and the plug 10 is adjusted using the adjusting unit, positioning the plug 10 at the silo outlet and sealing it. This sealing method is applicable to silos of various structures, demonstrating strong adaptability. The elastic buffer unit 30 flexibly buffers the pressure when the plug 10 seals the silo outlet, preventing damage to the sealing device and its components from excessively fast material falling from silos installed at high locations. Furthermore, the entire sealing structure employs a mechanical mechanism, resulting in lower maintenance costs and higher safety performance compared to pneumatic and hydraulic sealing mechanisms.

[0035] In some embodiments, the adjusting unit includes a lead screw 40, a nut 41, and a transmission structure 43. The nut 41 is connected to the elastic buffer unit 30, and the transmission structure 43 is connected to the lead screw 40. The lead screw 40 and the nut 41 are screwed together, and the transmission structure 43 is used to drive the lead screw 40 to rotate, so that the nut 41 moves along the lead screw 40.

[0036] for example, Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 In this design, the transmission mechanism drives the lead screw 40 to rotate, and the nut 41 moves up and down along the lead screw 40, thereby adjusting the positions of the lifting shaft 20 and the plug 10 above the lead screw 40, thus achieving the sealing and opening of the hopper outlet. In this scheme, the nut 41 mechanism is used as the driving mechanism for adjusting the positions of the lifting shaft 20 and the plug 10. Its simple structure and smooth movement make it more suitable for this sealing device. The transmission structure 43 can be a motor or a combination of a motor and a gear set, and it is mainly used to drive the lead screw 40 to rotate.

[0037] In some embodiments, the connecting seat 50 is provided with a guide plate 42, the nut 41 has cut edges 411 on both sides that mate with the guide plate 42, the nut 41 is movable along the guide plate 42, and the lead screw 40 is a self-locking lead screw 40. For example, Figure 3 As shown, the cut edge 411 is clearance-fitted with the guide plate 42 to prevent tilting or deflection when the nut 41 and the lifting shaft 20 move up and down. A self-locking screw is a type of screw that prevents loosening or relative displacement when subjected to external forces. For example, a trapezoidal self-locking screw has good self-locking performance. Its thread profile is an isosceles trapezoid with a thread angle of 30°, enabling a large transmission ratio. Its self-locking characteristic prevents the plug 10 from sliding down when there is no power drive.

[0038] In some embodiments, the transmission structure 43 includes a servo motor, a reducer, and a magnetohydrodynamic seal 44. The input of the reducer is connected to the output shaft of the servo motor, the lead screw 40 is connected to the reducer, and the magnetohydrodynamic seal 44 is installed below the connecting seat 50 to prevent leakage of the medium inside the reducer or the servo motor. For example, Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, by precisely controlling the rotation angle of the servo motor, the reducer can control the rotation angle of the self-locking screw through a stable transmission ratio, thereby achieving precise control of the height of the plug 10. This controls the opening of the hopper discharge port, regulates the system's production rhythm, and allows for control of the sealing device's movement based on preset parameters, achieving adaptive sealing of the hopper. The magnetic fluid seal 44 effectively prevents media leakage, meeting the requirements of special working conditions such as high vacuum and high cleanliness, and satisfying the requirements of automatic hoppers under different conditions. Magnetic fluid seals can extend equipment lifespan, reduce downtime for maintenance, and improve production efficiency.

[0039] In some embodiments, limit switches are provided at both ends of the travel of the lead screw 40, and the limit switches can automatically shut off the transmission structure 43. The limit switches automatically shut off the transmission structure 43 at the maximum and minimum travel to prevent the nut 41 from derailing.

[0040] In some embodiments, the elastic buffer unit 30 includes a nut connecting seat 33, a spring 32, and a fixing member 31. The nut connecting seat 33 is fixedly connected to the nut 41. The lower end of the lifting shaft 20 is slidably connected within the fixing member 31 and located at the upper end of the spring 32. The lower end of the lifting shaft 20 has a stop to prevent the lifting shaft 20 from sliding out of the fixing member 31. For example, Figure 3 As shown, the pressure at the lower end of the lifting shaft 20 acts on the spring 32. In this design, the spring 32 can be a rectangular heavy-duty spring. The spring 32 then acts on the nut connecting seat 33, and the nut connecting seat 33 then acts on the nut 41. This avoids the pressure of the lifting shaft 20 acting directly on the nut 41, mitigating the impact generated during the material dropping process that could cause the lead screw 40 to wear and jam. In addition, the fixing component 31 has a built-in pressure sensor. The pressure at the lower end of the lifting shaft 20 acts on the spring 32. When the plug 10 completes the sealing of the hopper outlet, the pressure sensor generates a control signal to control the power output of the transmission structure 43, enabling automatic control of the sealing action.

[0041] In some embodiments, the upper part of the plug 10 has a conical structure, and the conical surface of the upper part of the plug 10 contacts the outlet of the hopper to achieve a sealed hopper. For example, Figure 4 As shown, the conical plug 10 achieves sealing by making close contact between the conical surface and the outlet of the hopper, and its sealing performance is better than that of a planar seal. In addition, as the material pressure increases, the contact pressure between the conical plug 10 and the outlet of the hopper also increases, forming a self-tightening seal, which effectively prevents material leakage.

[0042] In some embodiments, the plug 10 is equipped with a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, and an image sensor. The pressure sensor, temperature sensor, and image sensor are used to monitor in real time information such as the shape, size, stacking height, and pressure distribution of the material within the silo, facilitating control of the conditions within the silo.

[0043] In some embodiments, the upper end of the lifting shaft 20 is a ball head 21, and the plug 10 is provided with a spherical groove that mates with the ball head 21. The ball head 21 is fixed in the spherical groove by a limiting plate, and the lifting shaft 20 and the limiting plate are in clearance fit. For example, Figure 4 As shown, the ball head 21 extends into the spherical groove, and the lower end of the ball head is restricted to the plug 10 by a limiting plate. The connection of the ball head 21 allows for greater freedom in the relative position between the two components, thereby enabling dynamic adjustment of the deflection angle of the plug 10 and making this sealing device more adaptable to different working environments and requirements. Simultaneously, the ball head 21 connection provides a more stable and uniform force distribution, and the impact of materials during the silo sealing process improves the reliability and stability of the sealing device.

[0044] In some embodiments, a spiral blade 22 is mounted at the center of the lifting shaft 20, and the spiral angle of the spiral blade 22 is greater than 60°. For example, Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, in order to avoid excessive speed when the material is dropped from the hopper installed at a high position, which could cause impact damage to the material and the system, a material dropping deceleration spiral blade 22 is installed in the middle of the lifting shaft 20. The spiral blade pitch angle is set to be greater than 60° to ensure that the material decelerates without causing blockage.

[0045] In practical use, this sealing device first sets the input signal to the servo motor, controlling the output end of the servo motor to rotate by a specified angle. The reducer fixedly connected to it will drive the magnetic fluid seal 44 installed below the connecting seat 50 to rotate. The upper end of the magnetic fluid seal 44 is fixedly connected to the self-locking screw 41, thereby driving the screw 40 to rotate. The nut 41 is screwed into the self-locking screw 40. The rotation of the screw 40 drives the nut 41 to rise and fall. The self-locking screw 40 can prevent the nut 41 from sliding down when there is no power drive. The nut 41 is connected to the upper elastic buffer unit 30 by bolts. The pressure of the lower end of the lifting shaft 20 acts on the spring 32, the spring 32 then acts on the nut 41 connecting seat 33, and the nut connecting seat 33 then acts on the nut 41. The lower end of the lifting shaft 20 is connected to the elastic buffer unit 30, and the upper end of the lifting shaft 20 is movably connected to the conical plug 10 through the ball head 21. The conical plug 10 can rotate and deflect at a small angle, so that the deflection angle of the plug 10 can be dynamically adjusted during the sealing process, making the sealing device more adaptable to different working environments and working requirements. In order to avoid the material falling from the silo installed at a high position too fast and causing damage to the material and system, a material falling deceleration spiral blade 22 is installed in its middle.

[0046] The beneficial effects of this sealing device are as follows:

[0047] 1. The use of a ball joint 21 to connect the lifting shaft 20 and the plug 10 improves the adaptability during the silo sealing process. The ball joint 21 connection allows for dynamic adjustment of the deflection angle of the plug 10, making the sealing device more adaptable to different working environments and requirements. Simultaneously, the ball joint 21 connection provides more stable and uniform force distribution, and the impact of materials during silo sealing improves the reliability and stability of the sealing device. The adaptive plug 10 can be integrated with pressure sensors for real-time monitoring of the shape, size, stacking height, and pressure distribution of materials within the silo.

[0048] 2. The elastic buffer unit 30 consists of a spring 32, a nut connecting seat 33, and a fixing component 31. The pressure at the lower end of the lifting shaft 20 acts on the spring 32, which in turn acts on the nut connecting seat 33, which in turn acts on the nut 41. This avoids the pressure of the lifting shaft 20 acting directly on the nut 41, mitigating the impact generated during the material dropping process that could cause the lead screw 40 to wear and jam. The elastic buffer unit 30 has a built-in pressure sensor. When the pressure at the lower end of the lifting shaft 20 acts on the elastic buffer unit 30, and the sealing device completes the sealing process, the pressure sensor generates a control signal to control the power output of the transmission system, thus achieving automatic control of the sealing device.

[0049] 3. To prevent excessive speed when dropping materials from silos installed at high locations, which could damage the materials and the system, a material dropping deceleration auger 22 is installed in the middle of the lifting shaft 20. At the same time, the pitch angle of the auger is greater than 60° to ensure that the material decelerates without causing blockage.

[0050] 4. Two guide plates 42 are installed above the connecting seat 50. The nut 41 is of the double-cut edge type, and the cut surfaces on both sides are clearance-fitted with the guide plates 42 to prevent the lifting shaft 20 from tilting or deflecting. Limit switches are provided at both ends of the stroke of the lead screw 40 to automatically stop the servo motor at the maximum and minimum stroke to prevent derailment.

[0051] 5. High positioning accuracy: By precisely controlling the rotation angle of the servo motor, the reducer can drive the self-locking screw to rotate through a stable transmission ratio, thereby achieving precise control of the height of the plug 10, which in turn controls the opening of the hopper and regulates the production rhythm of the system.

[0052] 6. The self-locking screw 40 prevents the plug 10 from loosening or relative displacement when subjected to external force, and its self-locking characteristic prevents the plug 10 from loosening and causing material leakage when there is no power drive.

[0053] The above embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and effects of this utility model and are not intended to limit the scope of this utility model. Any person skilled in the art can modify or alter the above embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of this utility model. Therefore, all equivalent modifications or alterations made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and technical concept disclosed in this utility model should still be covered by the claims of this utility model.

Claims

1. A flexible closure device suitable for use in a closed bin, characterised in that, include: Connector; A plug is used to seal the outlet of a silo. A lifting shaft, one end of which is connected to the plug, and the other end of which is connected to the connecting seat via a lifting adjustment unit. The lifting adjustment unit is used to drive the lifting shaft to move up and down to adjust the position of the plug. An elastic buffer unit is disposed between the lower end of the lifting shaft and the lifting adjustment unit to buffer the impact force when the plug seals the outlet of the hopper.

2. A flexible closure device for a closed bin according to claim 1, wherein: The adjusting unit includes a lead screw, a nut, and a transmission structure. The nut is connected to the elastic buffer unit, and the transmission structure is connected to the lead screw. The lead screw and the nut are screwed together, and the transmission structure is used to drive the lead screw to rotate, so that the nut moves along the lead screw.

3. A flexible closure device for a closed bin according to claim 2, wherein: The connecting seat is provided with a guide plate, the nut has tangential edges on both sides that cooperate with the guide plate, the nut can move along the guide plate, and the lead screw is a self-locking lead screw.

4. A flexible closure device for a closed bin according to claim 3, wherein: The transmission structure includes a servo motor, a reducer, and a magnetohydrodynamic seal. The input of the reducer is connected to the output shaft of the servo motor, the lead screw is connected to the reducer, and the magnetohydrodynamic seal is installed below the connecting seat to prevent leakage of the medium inside the reducer or the servo motor.

5. A flexible closure device for a closed bin according to claim 4, wherein: Limit switches are provided at both ends of the lead screw's stroke, and the limit switches can automatically shut down the transmission structure.

6. The flexible closure device for a closed bin of claim 2, wherein: The elastic buffer unit includes a nut connector, a spring, and a fixing member. The nut connector is fixedly connected to the nut. The lower end of the lifting shaft is slidably connected to the fixing member and located at the upper end of the spring. The lower end of the lifting shaft has a limiting block that prevents the lifting shaft from sliding out of the fixing member.

7. A flexible closure device for a closed bin according to claim 1, wherein: The upper part of the plug has a conical structure, and the conical surface of the upper part of the plug contacts the outlet of the hopper to achieve a sealed hopper.

8. A flexible closure device for a closed bin according to claim 7, wherein: The plug is equipped with a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, and an image sensor.

9. The flexible closure device for a closed bin of claim 1, wherein: The upper end of the lifting shaft is a ball head, and the plug is provided with a spherical groove that mates with the ball head. The ball head is fixed in the spherical groove by a limiting plate, and the lifting shaft and the limiting plate are in clearance fit.

10. A flexible closure device for a closed bin according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein: A spiral blade is installed in the middle of the lifting shaft, and the spiral angle of the spiral blade is greater than 60°.

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