Rotating Brush Ring Spreading Device for Uniform Liquid Grit Distribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing spreading devices for gritting vehicles face challenges in achieving a consistent and uniform distribution of liquid grit, particularly due to scattering losses and aerosol formation, especially when using brine as a spreading agent, which complicates winter service operations.

Innovation Solution

A scattering device equipped with a rotating brush ring that ejects liquid grit in small droplets, providing a uniform and large throwing distance with reduced aerosol formation, replacing traditional spreading discs and vanes, and allowing for efficient application of purely liquid brine without solid content.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-generated harmful factors

If a rotating spreading disc with guide walls is used to spread liquid brine, then aerosol formation is reduced, but the distribution uniformity deteriorates due to dependence on rotational speed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaerosol formationVSAvoiddistribution uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The spreading disc is divided into multiple sector-shaped guide channels with individual guide walls, allowing independent control of brine flow in each sector. This segmentation enables more precise control over brine distribution patterns while maintaining reduced aerosol formation through the guide wall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different sectors of the spreading disc have guide walls with varying geometries and orientations, creating locally optimized conditions for brine distribution. Each sector can be designed with specific guide wall angles and shapes to achieve uniform distribution in that particular area, independent of overall rotational speed variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If high rotational speed is used to achieve good brine distribution, then distribution uniformity improves, but scattering losses increase due to wind and aerosol formation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedistribution uniformityVSAvoidscattering losses
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The guide walls are designed to utilize the centrifugal force generated during rotation in a controlled manner, directing brine flow along predetermined paths rather than allowing uncontrolled scattering. The guide wall geometry converts the potentially harmful centrifugal scattering into beneficial directed flow, reducing both aerosol formation and scattering losses while maintaining distribution uniformity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Area of stationary object

If conventional spray bars are used to apply liquid brine, then application coverage is improved, but atomization increases causing scattering losses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication coverageVSAvoidatomization
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the conventional spray bar nozzle system with a mechanical spreading disc equipped with guide walls. This substitution eliminates the atomization process inherent in spray bars by using mechanical guide walls to direct brine flow, thereby reducing scattering losses while maintaining broad application coverage through the rotating disc mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 device ensures an even distribution of liquid grit over a wide area with minimal scattering losses and aerosol formation, improving the uniformity and reliability of the spreading pattern, especially in windy conditions, and can be easily integrated with existing spreading vehicles.

Implementation Method 1

a rotating unit (5) rotatably mounted about a rotational axis (RA) and drivable by a rotating element, in particular a motor. The rotating unit (5) comprises at least one rotating spreading element (6), in particular formed by a brush ring

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

The bristles (8) are attached to the support ring section (9) such that they project circumferentially beyond the circumference of the support ring section (9)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3940146A1Spreading device for spreading vehicle
Publication Date: 2022.01.19 BUCHER MUNICIPAL WERNBERG GMBH
  • EP3940146A1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP3940146A1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2d
  • EP3940146A1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3d

AI summary

The invention relates to a spreading device (1) for spreading vehicles (100) for applying spreading agents, comprising at least one tank (2, 2') for receiving liquid spreading agents to be spread and at least one application device (4) for applying the liquid spreading agents, wherein a feed unit (3) fluidly connected to the tank (2, 2') is further provided for supplying the spreading agents to the application device (4), and wherein the application device (4) has at least one rotating unit (5) rotatably mounted about a rotational axis (RA) and driven in a rotating manner. The rotating unit (5) particularly advantageously comprises at least one rotating spreading element (6) formed by a brush ring.