Bendable Belt Installation Tool With Sacrificial Pull Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing belt installation process for paper, pulp, and board machines is prone to damaging the belt and poses safety risks to individuals, with high costs and significant machine downtime due to the need for frequent belt replacements and improper installation methods.
Innovation Solution
A novel belt installation device with a bendable design and sacrificial attaching points that can break under excessive force, ensuring the belt is not damaged during installation, and providing uniform tension to prevent accidents and reduce downtime.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If pull ropes are used to pull the belt onto the machine, then the belt can be installed, but the belt may be damaged during the installation process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a sacrificial attaching point made of a breakable material (such as wood or plastic) that is intentionally designed to break under excessive force. This disposable component protects the expensive belt by failing first when the pulling force exceeds safe limits, allowing the installation to continue with a new attaching point rather than damaging the belt.
Solution Approach 2:
The belt installation device incorporates a sacrificial attaching point that acts as a pre-designed weak link to absorb excessive pulling forces before they can reach the belt. This beforehand cushioning mechanism ensures that if the pull rope is pulled too hard, the attaching point breaks instead of the belt, preventing damage in advance.
2Productivity
If the belt is damaged during installation, then the installation process fails, but the belt itself is expensive and replacement is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The sacrificial attaching point is designed as a low-cost, disposable component that can be quickly replaced. When it breaks during installation, the operator simply attaches a new attaching point to the belt and continues the installation process, avoiding the time-consuming task of removing and reinstalling the entire belt.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a system where the sacrificial attaching point is discarded (broken) when it serves its protective function, and a new attaching point is quickly attached to the belt. This allows the valuable belt to be recovered and reused, minimizing machine downtime and maintaining productivity.
3Strength
If the attaching point of the belt installation device is made strong, then it can handle high pulling forces, but it may damage the belt when excessive force is applied
Solution Approach 1:
The attaching point is deliberately made from a weak, breakable material that serves as a sacrificial component. It is designed to break at a specific force threshold, preventing the transmission of excessive force to the belt while maintaining sufficient strength for normal installation operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of excessive pulling force into a beneficial protective mechanism. The weak attaching point is designed to break under excessive force, and this breaking action becomes a safety feature that protects the belt from damage while allowing the installation process to continue with a simple replacement of the attaching point.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a non-bendable installation device is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot adapt to belts with different diameters
Solution Approach 1:
The belt installation device incorporates a bendable body that can dynamically adapt its shape to match the curvature of belts with different diameters. This dynamic flexibility allows the device to conform to various belt sizes without requiring multiple specialized tools, maintaining simplicity while achieving versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The installation device changes its geometric parameter (curvature radius) by bending its body to match the belt diameter. This parameter change allows the same device to work with belts of different sizes, providing adaptability without increasing structural complexity through multiple rigid components.
Data Source
AI summary
A belt installation device for installing a belt onto a paper machine, pulp machine or board machine, has a first area (4) with an attaching point (5) for attaching the belt installation device to a pulling member, a second area (6) with at least one aperture (7, 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d) for fastening the belt installation device (1) removably to a belt, and a central area (8) between the first area (4) and the second area (6), wherein a pull strength of the attaching point is at least 300 kgf and equal or less than 900 kgf. The belt installation device is bendable between a straight form and a curved form having a radius of curvature of 800 mm. This invention further relates to an installation arrangement and installing method for installing a belt onto a paper, pulp or board machine.