Bushing Shut-Off for Pneumatic Waste Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pneumatic waste conveying systems face difficulties in efficiently opening and closing input points due to pressure differences and air flow, requiring effective drive devices and often resulting in complex and power-intensive mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A movable shut-off means, formed as a bushing, is arranged within the channel part of the input point to reduce the force required for opening and closing, allowing for a smaller actuator and incorporating a flexing arrangement for safety to prevent overclosure if objects are present, while also enabling regulation of replacement air flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a shut-off means is used to close the input aperture in a pneumatic waste conveying system, then the input point can be sealed against pressure difference and air flow, but the force required to open and close the shut-off means becomes very large due to the pressure difference acting on the closing surface
Solution Approach 1:
The shut-off means is divided into two separate shut-off means: a first shut-off means for closing the input aperture and a second shut-off means for closing the replacement air aperture. This segmentation allows each shut-off means to have a smaller closing surface area, thereby reducing the force required to operate them while maintaining effective sealing when both are closed together.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single shut-off means operating in one dimension to two shut-off means operating in different dimensions (separate apertures). By distributing the sealing function across two separate closure actions rather than one large closure, the force requirement for each individual shut-off means is reduced.
2Reliability
If a large surface area shut-off means is used to ensure proper sealing, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but the actuator size and power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is segmented into two separate shut-off means, each with smaller surface areas. This allows the use of smaller, less powerful actuators for each shut-off means compared to a single large actuator, reducing overall device complexity and power requirements while maintaining effective sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using one shut-off means that must be fully opened to allow waste input, the system uses two shut-off means where only one needs to be open at a time. This partial action approach allows for smaller actuators since each shut-off means handles only part of the sealing function.
3Productivity
If the input aperture is completely opened for waste feeding, then material flow is improved, but replacement air flow regulation becomes problematic due to pressure differences
Solution Approach 1:
The air flow control function is segmented from the waste material flow control. The first shut-off means controls waste input while the second shut-off means independently controls replacement air flow. This segmentation allows replacement air to be regulated even when the input aperture is fully open for waste feeding.
Solution Approach 2:
The second shut-off means acts as an intermediary for controlling replacement air flow. It provides a separate control mechanism that mediates between the open input aperture and the need to regulate air flow, allowing both waste feeding and air flow control to occur simultaneously.
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
This solution reduces the force needed to open and close input apertures, allows for a smaller actuator, and provides safety against overclosure, while enabling efficient regulation of replacement air flow, thus improving the operational efficiency and safety of the input points in pneumatic waste conveying systems.
Implementation Method 1
a partial-vacuum apparatus is used to bring about a pressure difference, in which apparatus negative pressure is brought about in the conveying pipe
Implementation Method 2
wastes are conveyed long distances in the piping by sucking
Implementation Method 3
A movable shut-off means, formed as a bushing, is arranged within the channel part of the input point to reduce the force required for opening and closing
Implementation Method 4
incorporating a flexing arrangement for safety to prevent overclosure if objects are present
Data Source
Figure 1a~1d
Figure 2a~2c
Figure 3
AI summary
Method for feeding in and for handling material in an input point of a pneumatic wastes conveying system, in which method waste material or recyclable material is fed into an input point from an input aperture (2) of the input point (1 ) of a pneumatic pipe transport system for material, from where the material is conveyed along with the transporting air via a material conveying pipe to the delivery end of the pneumatic material conveying system, where the material is separated from the transporting air. An input point (1 ) comprises a channel part (10), in the wall of which an aperture (201 ) is formed for feeding material into the channel part via the input aperture (2), and that in the method the input aperture of the input point is opened and closed with a first shut-off means (3), which is a bushing means, and which is fitted inside the channel part (10) arranged in the input point movably between at least one first position, in which the connection for feeding in material via the input aperture (2) is closed, and at least one second position, in which the connection for feeding in material via the input aperture (2) is open.