Additive Manufactured Conveying Screw with Segmented Cooling Canals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing screws for conveying elastomer-based vulcanizing compounds in extrusion or injection machines are inadequate for preventing temperature increases due to shearing, leading to premature vulcanization, and are prone to coolant mixing and high manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A one-piece screw design with a longitudinal body and helical flights featuring interior partitioning that creates manifold-like cavities for coolant circulation, allowing for efficient temperature regulation and load transmission, manufactured using additive powder deposition methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a screw with an open helical groove and welded cover strip is used for coolant circulation, then temperature regulation is achieved, but the risk of coolant mixing with material increases and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The screw flight is segmented into multiple sealed interior canals through internal partitioning, replacing the single open helical groove with welded cover strips. This segmentation creates isolated coolant pathways that eliminate the risk of coolant mixing with conveyed material while maintaining effective temperature regulation
2Temperature
If a screw with welded cover strip is used for coolant circulation, then temperature regulation is achieved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The screw flight and shaft are merged into a single monolithic component manufactured by additive manufacturing. This integration eliminates the need for separate cover strips, welds, and assembly operations, significantly reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining the sealed coolant circulation system
3Productivity
If traditional screw design is used for conveying elastomer-based vulcanizing compounds, then material conveyance is achieved, but temperature increases due to shearing cause premature vulcanization
Solution Approach 1:
The screw flight features localized cooling through dedicated interior canals positioned at specific locations along the flight length. This local quality approach applies cooling precisely where shearing and temperature increase occur during material conveyance, preventing premature vulcanization while maintaining conveyance efficiency
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 design effectively regulates screw temperature, withstands high loads, and reduces manufacturing complexity and costs by integrating the screw and shaft as a single piece, ensuring efficient material conveyance without premature vulcanization.
Implementation Method 1
additive manufacturing by deposition and agglomeration of successive layers of powder
Implementation Method 2
additive manufacturing by deposition and agglomeration of successive layers of powder
Implementation Method 3
liquid coolant can be circulated in this interior canal
Implementation Method 4
regulate the temperature of the screws
Data Source
AI summary
A screw having a longitudinal body and, around this longitudinal body, at least one flight extending in the shape of a helix, the flight including, over part of its length, internal partitioning delimiting a plurality of internal channels that extend in the shape of helices following the helix shape of the flight. The screw includes manifold-like cavities into which the ends of the interior canals open, the manifold-like cavities extending radially and opened into a longitudinal bore of the body at longitudinally spaced locations. This screw can be produced by additive manufacturing using laser-induced fusion.