Conveyor Clamping Device Asymmetry for Wind Load Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyor systems for bulk goods face significant lateral wind forces, leading to high frictional and transverse loads on clamping devices, which can cause the conveyor belt to deflect and result in roller flanges colliding with clamping devices, necessitating strong and oversized clamping devices.
Innovation Solution
The clamping devices on connecting struts are designed to form an acute angle with the struts, and rollers are equipped with a single roller rim, allowing for reduced bending stress and preventing roller flange collisions, with pivoting clamping jaws and inclined surfaces to manage wind forces effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If clamping devices are dimensioned strong to absorb lateral wind forces, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping device uses asymmetric geometry where the clamping jaw is inclined at an acute angle (5-60 degrees) relative to the connecting strut. This asymmetric arrangement allows the clamping jaw to naturally deflect under lateral wind forces without transmitting full transverse loads to the connecting strut, reducing the required size and complexity of the clamping device while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping jaw is designed to be pivotable on the connecting strut, transforming the rigid clamping structure into a dynamic one. This pivoting capability allows the clamping device to adapt to lateral wind forces by rotating the jaw, thereby reducing bending stresses and enabling a more compact design while maintaining stable operation
2Stability of the object's composition
If rollers are designed with roller flanges on both sides, then conveyor belt stability is improved, but harmful factors increase due to collisions with clamping devices
Solution Approach 1:
The roller is designed with a single roller rim on one side only, creating an asymmetric configuration. This design eliminates the possibility of roller flange collisions with the clamping device while the inclined clamping jaw provides sufficient lateral guidance to maintain conveyor belt stability during operation
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful roller flange collision mechanism is completely removed by designing the roller with only one rim instead of flanges on both sides. This extraction of the collision-prone feature eliminates the harmful interaction between rollers and clamping devices while maintaining necessary conveyor belt stability
3Strength
If clamping devices are firmly connected to support cables, then strength is improved, but bending stress increases under lateral wind forces
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping jaw is made pivotable on the connecting strut, creating a dynamic connection that allows the jaw to rotate under lateral wind forces. This dynamic pivoting capability maintains the firm clamping connection while significantly reducing bending stresses by allowing the jaw to deflect rather than resist lateral forces rigidly
Solution Approach 2:
The inclination angle of the clamping jaw (5-60 degrees) is optimized to balance connection strength and stress reduction. This parameter optimization allows the clamping device to maintain sufficient holding strength while minimizing bending moments under lateral wind loads through geometric configuration
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
This design reduces clamping device stress and prevents roller collisions, enabling smoother operation and reduced maintenance by allowing the conveyor belt to transition between support cables and guide rails without interference.
Implementation Method 1
rollers are mounted, which roll along the middle and lower suspension ropes
Implementation Method 2
the clamping devices located on the connecting struts and assigned to the middle supporting cables or the lower supporting cables enclose an acute angle with the connecting struts
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Conveyor system for transporting bulk materials with three pairs of support ropes (31 to 36) arranged approximately vertically one above the other and with a self-contained conveyor belt (1) which is movable along the support ropes (31 to 36) and guided at the ends of the system over deflection drums, wherein support beams (14) spaced apart from one another are attached to the conveyor belt (1), at the ends of which rollers (2) are mounted which roll along the middle and the lower support ropes (33 to 36), and with support frames (4) spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor system, by means of which the support ropes (31 to 36) are connected to one another, wherein the support frames (4) are formed by two support struts (41, 42) oriented at least approximately vertically and two connecting struts oriented at least approximately horizontally, and furthermore the upper ends of the support struts (41, 42) are each connected to one of the two upper support ropes (31,32) and the connecting struts (43, 44) are connected to the middle and lower support cables (33 to 36) by means of clamping devices (5) located thereon. The clamping devices (5) located on the connecting struts (43, 44), each assigned to the middle support cables (33, 34) or the lower support cables (35, 36) respectively, form an acute angle with the connecting struts (43, 44), and the rollers (2) are provided with a roller flange (21) only on one side.