Arcuate Mobile Aggregate Hopper Reducing Welding and Weight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile aggregate hoppers for volumetric and gravimetric mixers face challenges in efficiently storing and transporting aggregates due to structural limitations, such as high weight, complex welding requirements, and inefficient material flow, which can lead to increased vibration needs and wear on conveyor components.
Innovation Solution
A mobile aggregate hopper design featuring arcuate longitudinal side walls made from a single sheet structure, integrated conveyor assembly, and a robust base with minimized welding and mechanical joints, allowing for reduced weight, improved stability, and efficient material flow through strategic use of vibrators and support braces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If traditional angular aggregate hoppers with multiple compartments are used, then material storage capacity is sufficient, but structural weight is high and welding complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hopper is divided into multiple compartments (first aggregate compartment, second aggregate compartment, and cementitious material compartment) separated by interior divider walls. This segmentation allows efficient material storage and flow while using a simplified structural approach that reduces overall welding requirements compared to traditional designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The hopper employs arcuate longitudinal side walls with a curved, bow-shaped cross-section instead of traditional angular or flat walls. This curvature optimizes material flow characteristics, reduces structural stress concentrations, and eliminates the need for complex welding at multiple angular joints, thereby reducing both weight and welding complexity.
2Productivity
If arcuate longitudinal side walls are used, then material flow efficiency improves and vibration needs decrease, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The arcuate longitudinal side walls create a smooth, curved flow path for aggregate materials from the top of the hopper to the conveyor assembly at the bottom. This curvature prevents material bridging and arching, ensures consistent material flow to the conveyor, and reduces the need for vibrators to maintain flow efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The arcuate side walls are designed to extend continuously from the top opening to the base, integrating the walls with the base structure. This merging of components simplifies manufacturing by reducing the number of separate parts and joints, while maintaining the material flow benefits of the curved geometry.
3Strength
If integrated base with conveyor assembly is used, then structural integrity increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base structure is designed to enclose and integrate the conveyor assembly, with the arcuate side walls extending down to form the base. This integration creates a unified structural unit that enhances strength and stability while reducing the number of separate components and connection points that would increase complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor assembly is positioned in a lower plane beneath the aggregate compartments, utilizing the vertical space efficiently. This dimensional arrangement allows the conveyor to be integrated into the base structure without interfering with the aggregate storage and flow paths, maintaining structural integrity while managing device complexity.
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 design enhances material flow and reduces vibration requirements, lowers the overall weight of the hopper, and provides increased structural integrity, enabling efficient transportation and mixing of aggregates while minimizing wear on conveyor components and improving safety.
Implementation Method 1
a mobile aggregate hopper for a volumetric and gravimetric mixer with an arcuate wall design. In particular, the volumetric aggregate hopper has arcuate longitudinal side walls defining one or more aggregate and material reservoirs or bins
Implementation Method 2
efficient material flow through strategic use of vibrators and support braces
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile aggregate hopper for a volumetric and gravimetric mixer having arcuate longitudinal walls for holding and isolating aggregate. The mobile aggregate hopper has a base integral with the arcuate longitudinal walls with an aggregate transfer conveyor capable of attachment to a trailer or chassis having wheels. The single sheet structure of the longitudinal arcuate side walls minimizes welding and mechanical joints during manufacturing and provides a hopper with high strength and capacity and low overall weight.