Pneumatic Coil Spring Transfer With Rebound Blocking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for producing coil springs face challenges in achieving trouble-free long-term operation at high output rates due to coil spring rebound during transport, leading to collisions and disruptions in the manufacturing process.

Innovation Solution

A collision-proof spring transfer system is implemented, utilizing a pneumatic conveyor system with a brake installation and automatic blocking mechanisms to prevent re-entry of rebounding coil springs, ensuring continuous and controlled transfer of coil springs into downstream machines.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If coil springs are transported at high speeds through the pneumatic conveyor system, then productivity and output rate are improved, but coil springs rebound and collide causing disruptions in the manufacturing process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoutput rateVSAvoidtrouble-free operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A brake installation is positioned at the end of the pneumatic conveyor system to decelerate coil springs before they enter the downstream machine. This preliminary braking action prevents rebound and collisions, ensuring reliable operation while maintaining high transport speeds throughout most of the conveyance path

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The brake installation acts as an intermediary element between the high-speed pneumatic conveyor system and the downstream machine. It mediates the transition by controlling the speed of coil springs, allowing the system to maintain high productivity while preventing harmful rebound effects

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Speed

If the pneumatic conveyor system maintains high transport speed throughout the entire pipeline, then productivity is improved, but coil springs collide with the downstream machine causing process disruptions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransport speedVSAvoidcollisions

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The pneumatic conveyor system is designed with different functional zones: the majority of the pipeline maintains high transport speed for productivity, while the terminal section incorporates a brake installation that creates a localized deceleration zone. This local quality change allows high-speed transport without causing collisions at the discharge point

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If coil springs are decelerated before entering the downstream machine, then rebound and collisions are prevented improving reliability, but transport time increases reducing productivity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocess stabilityVSAvoidtransport time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Deceleration is performed as a preliminary action only at the critical terminal section where coil springs enter the downstream machine. The brake installation applies braking force just in time to prevent rebound, rather than maintaining reduced speed throughout the entire transport path. This minimizes time loss while ensuring process stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 system achieves a reliable and efficient transfer of coil springs at high transport speeds, preventing collisions and ensuring a high piece rate by decelerating coil springs using a brake installation and blocking re-entry through a variable-diameter exit opening, thereby maintaining process integrity.

Implementation Method 1

the severed coil springs are successively, thus one piece after another, transported through a pipeline of a pneumatic conveyor system into a spring receptacle of a downstream machine

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPneumatic conveying: Fluid Spray

Implementation Method 2

The pneumatic conveyor system, behind an inlet opening of the pipeline, has a feeding installation for pressurized fluid which serves to accelerate the coil springs in the transport direction within the pipeline

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid acceleration: Fluid Spray

Implementation Method 3

a brake installation for decelerating the coil springs before the coil springs enter the spring receptacle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS12252356B2Method and system of producing coil springs

Publication Date: 2025.03.18 WAFIOS AKTIENGES

AI summary

A collision-proof spring transfer takes place in the process, which comprises a continuous transfer of coil springs from the pipeline through an exit opening of the pipeline into assigned spring receptacles, and an automatic prevention of any re-entry of coil springs that have passed through the exit opening in the direction of the spring receptacle and rebound from the region of the spring receptacle back into the pipeline.