Curved-Bottom Separator With External Conveying for Low-Wear Sludge Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for separating material from liquids, such as in water jet cutting and grinding processes, are inefficient and result in significant wear on mechanical parts, leading to suboptimal cleaning outcomes.

Innovation Solution

A separating device featuring a conveying element that can be guided along the floor by a drive, with a design minimizing mechanical wear by having the conveying element as the only mechanical part in the liquid, utilizing a basin with a curved bottom for material settlement and a chute system for efficient material collection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a bag is used for cleaning with water directed through it so that sand settles inside, then material separation is achieved, but cleaning efficiency is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoidtime for material separation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the conveying element from the liquid environment, allowing it to be driven externally by a drive mechanism rather than requiring direct mechanical interaction with the liquid. This extraction principle enables more efficient material removal while reducing wear on mechanical components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces traditional mechanical mixing and separation systems with a driven conveying element that moves along the basin floor. This substitution reduces mechanical wear while improving cleaning efficiency by systematically transporting material to the outlet.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If multiple mechanical parts are located in the liquid for separation, then separation function is enhanced, but wear on mechanical parts increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseparation functionVSAvoidservice life of mechanical parts
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The conveying element is extracted from the liquid environment and driven externally, minimizing the number of mechanical parts in direct contact with the liquid. This reduces wear on mechanical components while maintaining effective separation function through the conveying element's movement along the basin floor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The conveying element can be designed as a flexible component that moves along the basin floor, reducing the need for rigid mechanical parts in the liquid. This flexible approach minimizes wear while maintaining effective material conveyance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Productivity

If a curved bottom wall is used for material settlement, then material collection is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial collection efficiencyVSAvoidbasin structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The basin bottom wall is designed with a curved surface that facilitates material settlement and convergence toward the outlet. This curvature naturally guides material flow without requiring additional mechanical components, improving collection efficiency while maintaining relatively simple device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 enables efficient separation of material from liquids with reduced mechanical wear, allowing for effective cleaning in various applications like water jet cutting and grinding, by using a conveying device that balances force requirements and facilitates easy liquid flow back into the system.

Implementation Method 1

Basin 10 serves as a trough into which liquid containing the material to be separated can be introduced, allowing it to settle at the bottom of the basin 10

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSedimentation: Sedimentation

Implementation Method 2

conveying element 21 for the conveying device 20, which is designed to receive and convey material M along a curved bottom surface 10c

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical conveyance:

Implementation Method 3

The arm 22 is thus balanced, so that conveying the material to be separated is possible with minimal force

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravitational balancing: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP2896443B1Separating device for separating material from a liquid
Publication Date: 2021.03.03 LASERJET 2000
  • EP2896443B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2896443B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2896443B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The separation device for separating material from a liquid comprises a trough (10) through which the liquid can flow and which has a bottom (10c) on which the material accumulates during operation, and a conveying device (20). This conveying device has a conveying element (21) which can be guided along the bottom (10c) by means of a drive (25) and is designed to collect material accumulated on the bottom and convey it out of the trough (10).