Conveyor Belt Cleaner Scraper Blade Rocking Fulcrum Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyor belt cleaners with scraper blades face challenges in maintaining constant contact with the belt while avoiding damage from metallic splices, as increased rigidity for durability makes it difficult for the scraper blades to shift away from impacts.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor belt cleaner design featuring a scraper blade with a rigid fulcrum member and a blade mount member that can resiliently rock about the fulcrum, allowing for adaptive movement to navigate around splices and imperfections, combined with a resilient support system embedded within the base to reduce stress concentrations and debris accumulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a relatively thick spring plate is used to increase durability, then the durability of the spring plate is improved, but the rigidity and inertia of the spring plate increase, making it more difficult for the scraper blade to shift out of the way of metallic splices
Solution Approach 1:
The spring plate is segmented into a first portion and a second portion with different thicknesses. The first portion has a greater thickness for durability, while the second portion has a lesser thickness to allow easier shifting. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by distributing different functional requirements to different parts of the same component.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the spring plate are given different thicknesses to perform different functions. The thicker first portion provides durability where needed, while the thinner second portion provides flexibility for shifting. This local quality differentiation allows the single component to satisfy both durability and adaptability requirements simultaneously.
2Strength
If the spring plate is made more rigid to absorb impacts, then the durability is improved, but the ability to resiliently shift away from the belt during impacts is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The spring plate is divided into segments with different thicknesses - a thicker first portion for impact absorption and a thinner second portion for resilient shifting. This segmentation allows the component to exhibit both rigidity and flexibility in different regions, resolving the contradiction between strength and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The thickness parameter of the spring plate is varied across different portions to achieve different mechanical properties. The thicker first portion provides higher stiffness for impact absorption, while the thinner second portion provides lower stiffness for resilient shifting, thus resolving the contradiction through parameter differentiation.
3Productivity
If scraper blades are kept in substantially constant contact with the belt, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the risk of damage from metallic splice impacts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring plate with differentiated thicknesses provides dynamic response to varying conditions - maintaining contact for cleaning while allowing controlled shifting during impacts. The thinner second portion enables the blade to dynamically adjust its position, resolving the contradiction between constant contact and impact protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring plate structure is designed beforehand to provide cushioning during splice impacts. The thinner second portion acts as a pre-designed cushioning element that allows the blade to shift away from impacts before damage occurs, while the thicker first portion provides overall structural support for maintaining cleaning contact.
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 enhances the durability of the scraper blade and support system by allowing for flexible movement around conveyor belt splices and imperfections, maintaining effective cleaning while reducing the risk of damage and debris-induced inhibition.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient support for the blade mount member configured to allow the blade mount member to resiliently rock about the rigid fulcrum member as the scraper blade is impacted during conveyor belt operations
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with one aspect, a cleaner for a conveyor belt is provided having a scraper blade for engaging a conveyor belt traveling in a downstream direction and a rigid fulcrum member extending laterally transverse to the downstream direction. The cleaner includes a blade mount member having an upper arm portion connected to the scraper blade, an intermediate portion spaced upstream from the rigid fulcrum member, and a lower arm portion extending from the intermediate portion, under the rigid fulcrum member, and downstream beyond the fulcrum member. The cleaner has a resilient support for the blade mount member configured to allow the blade mount member to resiliently rock about the rigid fulcrum member as the scraper blade is impacted during conveyor belt operations.