Variable Flow Limiter for Conveyor Belt Rate Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional conveyor devices face inefficiencies in energy use and material distribution due to the need to adjust conveying speed, leading to increased wear and lateral material loss, especially with trough-shaped belts, where speed changes require adjustments in belt incline and dosing slide geometry.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of variable conveying flow limiters, such as half-cylinder shaped devices that can move between positions to alter the material flow cross-section, allowing for adjustable conveying rates without changing speed, and can be adapted to different conveyor belt geometries to maintain material flow centrality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conveying speed is changed to control conveying rate, then conveying rate is adjusted, but energy efficiency deteriorates and wear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the parameter being adjusted from conveying speed to conveying cross-section area. By varying the cross-section area of the material flow using flow limiters while maintaining constant belt speed, the system achieves conveying rate control without the energy penalties and wear associated with speed changes.
2Productivity
If conveying speed is changed to control conveying rate, then conveying rate is adjusted, but wear properties deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the parameter being adjusted from conveying speed to conveying cross-section area. By varying the cross-section area of the material flow using flow limiters while maintaining constant belt speed, the system achieves conveying rate control without the wear and tear associated with frequent speed adjustments.
3Manufacturing precision
If incline of conveyor belt is adjusted to hit specific discharge point, then discharge accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the incline adjustment requirement from the system. By controlling the conveying cross-section area with flow limiters while maintaining constant belt speed and fixed incline, the system achieves variable conveying rates without needing complex incline adjustment mechanisms.
4Manufacturing precision
If dosing slide geometry is adapted to trough shape, then material flow limitation is improved, but adaptability to different conveyor shapes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a universal flow limiter design that can be applied to different conveyor belt geometries (flat, trough-shaped, etc.). The flow limiters achieve material flow limitation through their positioning and geometry independent of the underlying conveyor shape, making them adaptable to various conveyor configurations.
5Productivity
If dosing slide is moved from above into material flow, then material flow is limited, but lateral material distribution increases causing loss
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving the dosing slide from above into the material flow (which causes lateral distribution and loss), the invention positions flow limiters laterally at the edges of the material flow. This inverted approach limits the flow cross-section from the sides rather than from above, preventing lateral material loss while achieving flow control.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3b
Figure 4a~4b
AI summary
The invention relates to a conveying device (12, 13) comprising a conveyor belt (1) with a conveying section (2) for conveying bulk material and a return section. The conveying section (2) has a conveying surface (4) on which a material flow (5) runs, the conveying rate of which is given by the product of a linear velocity of the conveying section (2) and a conveying cross-sectional area (9) of the material flow (5). The invention is characterized by a variable flow restrictor (7) that is movable between a first and a second position. The conveying cross-sectional area (9) downstream of the flow restrictor (7) is smaller in the second position than in the first position.