Comminution Drum Segmentation for Waste Impurity Discharge

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing comminution devices are inadequate for continuous, trouble-free processing of waste materials with higher loads of impurities due to issues such as blocked discharge chutes, damage from coarse materials, and inability to adapt to different material mixtures and types, leading to reduced separating capacity and increased maintenance costs.

Innovation Solution

A comminution device with a shredding drum having a dense lower drum shell section for collecting impurities and a closable contaminant discharge opening at the same level as the drum base, allowing for efficient separation and discharge of impurities without interrupting operation, combined with a permeable upper drum shell section for fine material separation, and adjustable comminution tools for varying material types.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a sieve-like bottom and circumferential wall are used for fine material separation, then separating capacity is improved, but solid contaminants accumulate and block the discharge chute

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseparating capacityVSAvoiddischarge chute blockage
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device divides the drum shell into two distinct sections: a dense lower section for contaminant collection and a permeable upper section for fine material separation. This segmentation allows each section to perform its specific function without interference, preventing contaminant accumulation in the discharge path while maintaining efficient separation capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the contaminant collection function from the fine material separation system by providing a separate discharge opening in the dense lower drum shell section. This dedicated contaminant discharge path prevents blockage of the fine material discharge chute while maintaining continuous operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Manufacturing precision

If the drum shell is made permeable for fine material discharge, then separation efficiency is improved, but solid contaminants damage the screen surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseparation efficiencyVSAvoidscreen surface damage
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The drum shell is segmented into a dense lower section that protects screen surfaces from solid contaminants and a permeable upper section that enables efficient fine material separation. This spatial segmentation ensures that harmful contaminants are collected in the dense section while the permeable section remains protected from damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The dense lower drum shell section acts as an intermediary barrier that captures solid contaminants before they can reach and damage the permeable screen surfaces in the upper section. This protective intermediary layer maintains both separation efficiency and screen integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If a fixed rotor position is used, then device simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different material types is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice simplicityVSAvoidmaterial adaptation
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The rotor is made adjustable in its vertical position along the drum axis, allowing operators to dynamically reposition the rotor to adapt to different material types and impurity loads. This dynamic adjustment capability enhances versatility while maintaining relatively simple device architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention enables parameter changes by allowing vertical adjustment of the rotor position. This simple parameter modification allows the device to adapt to different material characteristics and processing requirements without fundamentally changing the device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Productivity

If impurities are allowed to accumulate in the drum, then continuous operation is maintained, but separating capacity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous operationVSAvoidseparating capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The contaminant discharge opening is designed to be periodically opened to remove accumulated impurities from the dense lower drum shell section. This periodic cleaning action restores separating capacity while maintaining overall continuous operation of the shredding process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention maintains continuous useful action by providing separate discharge paths for contaminants and fine materials. The permeable upper section continues to separate fine materials continuously while the dense lower section periodically discharges contaminants, ensuring uninterrupted productive operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful 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 device ensures continuous operation with reduced maintenance, prevents damage from impurities, and effectively separates and discharges coarse materials, maintaining high separating capacity even with high impurity loads, thereby enhancing the processing of waste materials.

Implementation Method 1

the upper drum shell section directly adjacent to the contaminant discharge opening and designed at least partially as a screen shell with screen openings that is permeable to fines

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSieve separation: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 2

the drum shell in its lower drum shell section extending from the drum base to the opening height of the contaminant discharge opening is formed from a dense wall material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSedimentation: Sedimentation

Data Source

PatentEP3431181B1Crushing device for various materials
Publication Date: 2020.04.22 A TEC HOLDING GMBH
  • EP3431181B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3431181B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3431181B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a device (1) for comminuting various materials (100), in particular waste, wherein the device (1) has an upwardly open comminution drum (20) with a horizontal drum bottom (21) and a cylindrical drum shell (23), wherein a comminution rotor (40) rotatably mounted about the vertical drum axis (22) with at least one comminution tool (45) attached thereto is provided in the comminution drum (20), and the drum shell (23) has at least one closable contaminant discharge opening (30) with an opening height (300).The at least one contaminant discharge opening (30) in the drum shell (23) is directly adjacent to the drum bottom (21), wherein the drum shell (23) in its lower drum shell section (24) extending from the drum bottom (21) to the opening height (300) of the contaminant discharge opening (30) is formed from a dense wall material (245) and the drum shell (23) directly adjoins the dense lower drum shell section (24) a permeable upper drum shell section (25) which is formed at least partially as a screen shell (26) permeable to fines (280) with screen openings (27).