Ballast Cleaning Machine with Pre-Screening Chain Channel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machines for cleaning ballast on tracks are ineffective when the gravel is covered with moist clay, as the additional screening devices fail to improve cleaning efficiency in heavily soiled conditions.
Innovation Solution
A machine with a chain channel featuring rotatable screen shafts and star-shaped or polygon-shaped screen bodies that guide the clearing chain above the screen bottom, allowing for effective pre-screening and improved cleaning quality by relieving the screening system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a sieve surface is designed as the bottom surface of the chain channel to improve cleaning efficiency, then cleaning efficiency is improved, but the device becomes ineffective when gravel is covered with moist clay
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a pre-screening system with screen shafts and screen bodies positioned above the chain channel bottom. This preliminary screening action separates clay balls from gravel before the gravel reaches the chain channel, preventing the sieve surface from being clogged by moist clay and maintaining its cleaning effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-screening system acts as an intermediary between the gravel transport and the chain channel sieve surface. By intercepting and removing clay balls in the pre-screening stage, it protects the main sieve surface from direct contact with moist clay, resolving the contradiction between maintaining cleaning efficiency and ensuring reliability in soiled conditions
2Productivity
If additional screening devices are added to improve cleaning efficiency, then cleaning efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the pre-screening function and the main screening function into an integrated system. The screen shafts with screen bodies are positioned within the chain channel structure, merging the pre-screening and main screening operations into a unified assembly that reduces overall device complexity while maintaining improved cleaning efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The chain channel structure serves multiple functions: it transports gravel, houses the pre-screening system with screen shafts, and provides the main sieve surface at the bottom. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate, independent screening devices, thereby reducing device complexity while improving cleaning efficiency
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a machine (1) for cleaning ballast (2) of a track (3), comprising a clearing chain (8) guided in chain channels (7). The chain channel (7) provided for transporting the ballast to the sifting plant (10) has a bottom opening (13). In said bottom opening, a plurality of sieve shafts that can be rotated around an axis for forming a sieve base is arranged.