Brine Machine Self-Cleaning Auger and Filter System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing brine machines for managing snow and ice on roadways and sidewalks require frequent shutdowns for cleaning due to foreign material buildup, leading to labor-intensive maintenance, downtime, and premature wear of equipment.
Innovation Solution
A self-cleaning brine machine design featuring a multi-stage filter system, augers for conveying solid material, and a controller for managing water spray bars and dampers to continuously filter and remove non-dissolvable materials, allowing continuous operation without shutdowns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If brine machine operates continuously to produce salt brine solution, then productivity increases, but foreign material accumulates in the system causing equipment wear and requiring shutdowns for cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes foreign material (MOS) from the brine production system using a dedicated removal mechanism. The system continuously separates and extracts sand, shale, and other non-dissolvable materials from the salt brine solution, preventing accumulation that would otherwise cause equipment wear and shutdowns. This extraction process enables continuous operation while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The brine machine incorporates self-cleaning capabilities through automatic foreign material removal mechanisms. The system monitors and removes its own contaminants without requiring external intervention or shutdowns. The self-service feature includes automatic filtration and removal systems that maintain the machine's operational reliability continuously.
2Manufacturing precision
If foreign material is removed frequently to maintain clean brine, then brine quality improves, but downtime increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous foreign material removal throughout the brine production process. Rather than periodic cleaning shutdowns, the system continuously filters and removes MOS from the salt brine solution. This continuous action maintains brine cleanliness without interrupting production, eliminating downtime while ensuring manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary filtration and foreign material removal at the source, before contaminants can accumulate to problematic levels. By continuously extracting MOS early in the process, the system prevents contamination buildup that would otherwise require shutdowns for cleaning, maintaining both brine quality and continuous operation.
3Productivity
If salt is suspended into water to create brine solution, then brine production efficiency increases, but non-dissolvable materials remain suspended causing maintenance issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary filtration and removal system between the salt suspension process and the final brine output. This intermediary mechanism captures and removes non-dissolvable materials that remain suspended after salt dissolution, preventing them from causing maintenance issues while allowing continuous high-speed brine production.
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
Enables continuous production of clean brine at desired concentrations, reducing maintenance needs and equipment wear, and maintaining peak performance by continuously removing foreign materials.
Implementation Method 1
a source of water for wetting salt in the salt hopper
Implementation Method 2
a filter providing fluid communication between the salt hopper and the brine hopper
Implementation Method 3
The augers convey solid material from the base of the salt hopper and discharge the material from the machine
Implementation Method 4
a first water spray bar in the salt hopper positioned adjacent an inlet side of the filter for flushing the inlet side of the filter
Data Source
AI summary
A brine machine comprises a salt hopper, a source of water for wetting salt in the salt hopper, a brine hopper positioned in side-by-side relation relative to the salt hopper, a filter providing fluid communication between the salt hopper and the brine hopper, a generally horizontal auger positioned in a base of the salt hopper, and an upwardly directed lift auger having a first end in operable association with an end of the horizontal auger and a second discharge end positioned above a level of brine in the brine hopper. The augers convey solid material from the base of the salt hopper and discharge the material from the machine.