Ball Mill Coupling for Automatic Grinding Jar Clamping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laboratory ball mills face challenges with complex and structurally inefficient automatic grinding cup clamping systems that require precise orientation and alignment, leading to potential safety issues and increased component wear due to high centrifugal forces, especially in vibratory mills.
Innovation Solution
A laboratory ball mill with a coupling element that provides continuous, uninterrupted mechanical energy transfer from a stationary machine part to a moving machine part, allowing for automatic grinding cup clamping, independent of the grinding operation's motion and orientation, using a compact and lightweight design with flexible coupling elements like bead chains and gear arrangements to compensate for relative movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If an eccentric shaft coupling mechanism is used for automatic grinding cup clamping, then automated clamping operation is achieved, but the system becomes structurally complex and requires precise orientation and alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the coupling mechanism from the moving machine part and relocates it to the stationary machine part. This eliminates the need for complex coupling between moving and stationary components, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining automated clamping operation. The stationary coupling mechanism directly engages with the moving part without requiring intermediate eccentric shafts or precise alignment features.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of coupling the moving part to the stationary part through a complex eccentric shaft mechanism, the patent inverts the approach by having the stationary part perform the coupling action. The stationary coupling mechanism engages with the moving part, reversing the traditional coupling direction and simplifying the structural requirements.
2Reliability
If a robust power transmission design is used to ensure reliable clamping force, then clamping reliability is improved, but component weight and centrifugal forces increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power transmission function from the moving machine part and relocates it to the stationary machine part. This eliminates the need for heavy-duty power transmission components in the moving part, reducing its weight and the centrifugal forces it experiences during operation. The stationary part handles all robust power transmission requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the traditional power transmission arrangement by having the stationary part drive the moving part rather than the moving part having its own independent power transmission system. This reversal allows robust power transmission components to remain stationary, reducing moving mass while maintaining clamping reliability.
3Reliability
If precise orientation and alignment are required for coupling, then coupling reliability is improved, but the system becomes more sensitive to wear and contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the coupling mechanism from the moving part and places it in the stationary part, where it is less susceptible to wear and contamination from grinding operations. This relocation reduces the sensitivity of the coupling to harmful factors while maintaining reliable engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the coupling arrangement by having the stationary part initiate and maintain the coupling engagement rather than the moving part. This inversion makes the coupling less sensitive to orientation changes and contamination, as the stationary coupling mechanism operates in a cleaner, more stable environment.
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
Ensures reliable and efficient automatic grinding cup clamping, reducing component stress and wear, enabling clamping of various cup geometries, and maintaining a compact mill design while preventing unintentional release, even under high centrifugal forces.
Implementation Method 1
an energy transfer from the stationary machine part to the moving machine part is provided via the coupling device to generate the clamping force
Implementation Method 2
using a compact and lightweight design with flexible coupling elements like bead chains and gear arrangements to compensate for relative movements
Implementation Method 3
maintaining a compact mill design while preventing unintentional release, even under high centrifugal forces
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a laboratory ball mill (1), in particular a vibration mill, centrifugal ball mill, or planetary ball mill, also in particular a planetary ball mill having a transmission ratio of 1:-1, comprising: at least one grinding jar holder (4) for at least one grinding jar (5), said grinding jar holder being located on a machine part (3) of the ball mill (1) which is moved during the grinding operation of the ball mill (1); a clamping device (6) which is located on the moving machine part (3), for transmitting a clamping force to the grinding jar (5); and a coupling device (12) having at least one coupling element (13), energy being transmitted from the stationary machine part (2) to the moving machine part (3) via the coupling device (12) in order to generate the clamping force. According to the invention, the coupling element (13) is coupled to the stationary machine part (2) and to the moving machine part (3) during the grinding operation.