Can Conveyor Chain Elastomeric Damping Head Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyor chains used for conveying cans face issues with damping characteristics degradation due to contamination and high temperatures, leading to mechanical spring system failures and inadequate damping performance.
Innovation Solution
The damping head of the conveyor chain features an elastically deformable spring section made of elastomer with a narrowing wall thickness, providing adjustable elastic characteristics and an optimized cross-sectional profile, which enhances damping performance and thermal stability, while using a temperature-resistant elastomer like FKM reduces noise and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanical spring system is used for damping, then damping characteristics are initially good, but contamination causes failure and loss of damping characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the mechanical spring system entirely and replaces it with an elastomeric damping head that provides damping through material elasticity rather than mechanical spring mechanics, eliminating the contamination vulnerability of mechanical springs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical spring system with an elastomeric material-based damping mechanism, using the viscoelastic properties of the elastomer to provide damping characteristics without relying on mechanical spring components that are susceptible to contamination
2Temperature
If hard plastic materials are used for damping heads, then thermal stability is improved, but damping characteristics deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite construction with an elastomeric outer layer providing damping characteristics and an internal structure (metal shaft or rigid core) providing thermal stability and structural support, combining the benefits of both material types
Solution Approach 2:
The patent selects elastomers with specific shore hardness values (A50-A90) that maintain adequate damping characteristics while withstanding the thermal conditions of the drying oven, optimizing the material parameters for the specific application requirements
3Reliability
If spring-mounted damping heads are used, then damping characteristics are good, but the system is complex and failure-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the damping function and the structural support function into a single integrated elastomeric damping head component, eliminating the separate spring system and reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes the entire spring mounting system including locking washers and external springs, replacing it with a simpler elastomeric damping head that achieves the same damping function with fewer components
4Reliability
If the wall thickness of spring section is uniform, then manufacturing is simple, but damping characteristics are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies varying wall thicknesses in different sections of the elastomeric damping head, with thinner walls in the spring section for flexibility and damping, and thicker walls in the fastening portion for structural strength, optimizing both performance and manufacturability
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 solution achieves robust and effective damping characteristics, reduces noise emissions, and maintains performance under high temperatures, making it more reliable and cost-efficient compared to traditional designs.
Implementation Method 1
the spring section has an elastically deformable wall portion whose wall thickness narrows, at least sectionwise, towards the contact portion
Implementation Method 2
at least said spring section being made of an elastomer having a maximum shore hardness of A90
Data Source
AI summary
A conveyor chain, in particular a can conveyor chain, comprises chain links, which are interconnected by a respective chain hinge, and laterally projecting transport bars, which have a damping head made of a plastic material and provided for contact with the articles to be conveyed, the damping head comprising a fastening portion, a spring section arranged on said fastening portion and a contact portion connected to the spring section and adapted to contact the articles to be conveyed. A conveyor chain is provided of this type with a simpler and less failure-prone structural design. To this end, the damping head is provided with a front-side cavity of such a nature that the spring section has an elastically deformable wall portion whose wall thickness narrows, at least sectionwise, towards the contact portion, at least said spring section being made of an elastomer having a maximum shore hardness of A90.