Conveyor Slat With Integral Wheels and Landing Gears
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyor systems with traditional slats experience high frictional resistance, leading to decreased efficiency and increased power consumption, as well as wear and tear, due to slats riding directly on supports, and existing solutions like radially located bearings either fail to reduce friction effectively or compromise system efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of slats with integral landing gears and wheels, where the wheels engage surfaces distinct from the landing gears, reducing friction and load resistance, and allowing for better stress distribution and stability, while limiting vertical and horizontal movement to enhance carrying performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If slats ride directly on supports, then the structure is simple, but frictional resistance increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces wheels as intermediary elements between the slat and support. These wheels engage with tracks on the support, creating a rolling contact interface that mediates the interaction between slat and support, thereby reducing frictional resistance while maintaining structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the direct sliding contact mechanical system with a rolling contact system using wheels. This substitution transforms the friction-based sliding mechanism into a rolling mechanism, significantly reducing frictional resistance and improving conveyor efficiency
2Device complexity
If slats ride directly on supports, then the structure is simple, but wear and tear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wheels serve as intermediary components that protect the slat and support from direct contact and wear. By introducing this intermediate rolling element, the wear is distributed to the wheels and tracks rather than causing direct wear between slat and support surfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The wheels are designed as replaceable components that can be easily replaced when worn. This approach allows the use of simpler, more durable wheel materials that can be economically replaced rather than replacing entire slat assemblies, thereby improving system reliability and reducing maintenance costs
3Productivity
If wheels are set apart from the slat on landing gears, then friction is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the slat structure by separating the wheel assembly from the main slat body through landing gears. This segmentation allows the wheels to be positioned optimally for reduced friction while maintaining slat functionality, and enables independent replacement of wheel assemblies
Solution Approach 2:
The landing gears extend the wheel assembly away from the slat in a vertical dimension, creating spatial separation between the wheel contact point and the slat body. This dimensional arrangement optimizes the friction reduction benefit while managing the added complexity through vertical space utilization
4Stability of the object's composition
If landing gears limit vertical and horizontal movement, then stability improves, but mobility is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The landing gear design provides dynamic constraints that adapt to operational needs. The structure allows controlled movement in specific directions while providing stability in critical axes, creating a dynamic balance between mobility requirements and stability requirements for proper wheel engagement
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 solution significantly reduces friction and load resistance, improves stability, and allows for greater package loads, while minimizing wear and tear, resulting in more efficient and reliable conveyor operations.
Implementation Method 1
reduces friction and load resistance
Data Source
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AI summary
A slat for a conveyor that has one or more curves.