Reciprocating Slat Conveyor Drive Frame Assembly Simplification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drive/frame assemblies for reciprocating slat conveyors are complex and require a large number of different parts, making them difficult to manufacture, assemble, and maintain while maintaining power transmission efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A simplified drive/frame assembly design featuring a transverse mounting beam with a fixed and removable clamp system, identical manifolds, and a hydraulic piston rod with a central fluid passageway, allowing for the use of fewer part types and facilitating easier assembly and maintenance by enabling individual removal of hydraulic piston units and manifolds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional drive/frame assembly construction is used, then power transmission efficiency is maintained, but device complexity increases and ease of manufacture decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The manifold is integrated directly into the mounting beam structure, combining two separate components into one unified part. This reduces the total number of parts and simplifies assembly while maintaining the fluid passage functionality, directly addressing the contradiction between ease of manufacture and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting beam serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, houses the hydraulic manifold, and facilitates piston rod attachment. By making the mounting beam multi-functional, the design reduces the need for separate dedicated components, thereby reducing device complexity and improving ease of manufacture
2Ease of repair
If multiple different parts are used in the drive/frame assembly, then functional requirements are met, but ease of repair decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp assembly is divided into a fixed clamp portion integrated into the mounting beam and a removable clamp portion that can be detached. This segmentation allows the removable portion to be easily replaced during maintenance without affecting the fixed structure, improving ease of repair while reducing the number of different part types needed
Solution Approach 2:
The removable clamp portion can be easily removed and replaced during maintenance operations, allowing damaged components to be quickly discarded and replaced with new ones without requiring complex disassembly procedures, thereby improving ease of repair
3Power
If fixed piston rods and piston heads with movable cylinder barrels are used, then power transmission is effective, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The manifold is merged with the mounting beam structure, integrating fluid distribution functionality into the structural support element. This reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall assembly while maintaining effective power transmission through the hydraulic system
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 reduces the number of parts and simplifies the construction and maintenance of the drive/frame assembly, maintaining power transmission efficiency while minimizing the number of different parts required, thus enhancing manufacturing and assembly efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a first working chamber is defined in the cylinder barrel axially between the first cylinder head and the piston head and a second working chamber is defined axially between the second cylinder head and the piston head
Data Source
AI summary
Opposite end sections (20, 26) of a piston/cylinder drive unit (14) are clamped to longitudinally spaced apart transverse mounting beams (10, 12), by a fixed clamp parts connected to the mounting beams (10, 12) and removable clamp parts that are connected by bolts to the fixed clamp parts. The piston rod end sections (20, 26) include longitudinal passageways having outer end openings that project outwardly from the clamps. Manifolds are secured to the mounting beams (10, 12) outwardly of the end openings in the piston rod end sections (20, 26). A detachable coupling connects ports in the manifold with the end openings in the piston rod end sections (20, 26). The piston cylinder drive unit (14) can be detached from the frame by first detaching the fluid couplings and then detaching the clamps which clamp the piston rod end sections (20, 26) to the mounting beams (10, 12).