Comminution Tool Wear Measurement Using Integrated Reference Surface

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing comminution tools in rotor-stator or rotor-rotor systems suffer from inaccurate wear determination methods, leading to suboptimal end product quality and increased energy consumption due to mechanical stress and changing geometry, as visual checks and simple gap width measurements are prone to errors and do not account for wear on the stator or rotor surfaces.

Innovation Solution

A comminution tool with a reference surface integrated onto the tool itself, allowing for precise wear measurement by determining the distance between the effective edge and the reference surface, which is parallel to the main direction of wear, ensuring accurate wear assessment without stator or rotor surface interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If visual check or meter rule measurement is used to determine wear, then the measurement process is simple, but the measurement precision is low and results are inaccurate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of measurement processVSAvoidaccuracy of wear determination
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

A measuring gauge is introduced as an intermediary tool between the comminution tool and the measurement process. The gauge includes a reference surface that contacts the stator and a measuring element that contacts the comminution tool, mediating the measurement to eliminate direct contact between the stator surface wear and the measurement result.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The manual visual inspection and simple meter rule measurement are replaced by a mechanical measuring gauge system that provides automated, precise measurement through mechanical contact between the reference surface and the comminution tool, eliminating human error and subjectivity.

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

2Ease of operation

If gap width measurement using meter rule is performed, then the measurement is easy to perform, but measurement precision deteriorates due to stator surface wear changing the reference surface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of gap width measurementVSAvoidaccuracy of wear measurement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The measuring gauge serves as an intermediary that decouples the measurement from the stator surface. The reference surface on the gauge contacts the stator while the measuring element contacts the comminution tool, creating a measurement chain where stator wear does not affect the reference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The measurement system is segmented into distinct functional elements: a reference surface for stator contact, a measuring element for comminution tool contact, and a scale for reading. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function independently, isolating the measurement from stator surface variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If continuous operation of comminution devices is maintained, then productivity is high, but wear on comminution tools increases leading to decreased product quality and increased energy consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous operation capabilityVSAvoidproduct quality consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The precise wear measurement capability provides feedback on the actual wear state of comminution tools, enabling operators to monitor wear progression and schedule maintenance at optimal intervals. This feedback loop maintains product quality by ensuring tools are replaced before wear affects performance, while maximizing continuous operation time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

By implementing easy and precise wear measurement, maintenance actions can be planned in advance based on actual wear conditions rather than operating to fixed schedules. This preliminary planning allows optimization of maintenance timing to balance continuous operation with quality requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2218506B1Reduction tool and device with such a reduction tool and method for determining the wear level of such a reduction tool
Publication Date: 2015.03.18 PALLMANN MASCHFAB GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2218506B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~2b
  • EP2218506B1 patent drawingFigure 3a
  • EP2218506B1 patent drawingFigure 3b

AI summary

The invention relates to determining the wear condition of comminution tools and thus comprises a comminution tool (1, 10, 20), a comminution device with such a comminution tool (1, 10, 20), and a corresponding method. The basic idea of ​​the invention is to provide a reference surface (5, 15, 25) on the comminution tool (1, 10, 20) from which the distance A0, A1 to the effective edges (4, 14, 24) of the comminution tool (1, 10, 20) can be determined. The degree of wear is then obtained by comparing the original distance A0 of the unused comminution tool with the wear-related reduction in distance A1 after a certain period of use. This achieves the advantage that the wear condition can be determined independently of the general wear of the comminution device. Any resulting distortion of the measurement result is therefore excluded.