Curved Suction Element Centralizing Waste Flow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing suction devices for removing waste products from production machines often experience interference geometries, uneven speed and pressure fields, leading to clogging and unreliable waste extraction due to the design of suction elements.

Innovation Solution

The suction element features a curved peripheral wall creating a central negative pressure zone with lower pressure than the outer zone, minimizing contact with the wall and incorporating flow resistance means on the outer wall to direct waste products centrally through the device, reducing clogging and ensuring efficient extraction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional suction element with straight walls is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the waste products contact the walls causing clogging and unreliable extraction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliable waste extractionVSAvoidsuction element geometry
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The suction element employs a curved wall geometry instead of straight walls, creating a rounded profile that guides waste products through the center of the element. This curvature prevents waste from contacting the walls directly, eliminating clogging while maintaining extraction effectiveness. The curved design transforms the flow path to align with the negative pressure gradient toward the center.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Reliability

If the suction element creates uniform negative pressure across the cross-section, then the pressure field is simple, but waste products contact the walls and cause clogging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclogging preventionVSAvoidpressure field distribution
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The suction element design creates non-uniform negative pressure distribution across the cross-section, with the lowest (most negative) pressure concentrated at the center and higher pressure toward the walls. This local variation in pressure quality directs waste products toward the low-pressure center region, preventing wall contact and clogging while maintaining effective suction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If waste products flow through the entire cross-section of the suction element, then the extraction capacity is maximized, but contact with walls increases clogging risk

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewaste extraction efficiencyVSAvoidclogging
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The suction element effectively segments the flow cross-section into a central flow path and peripheral regions. Waste products are confined to the central region where the negative pressure is lowest, creating a dedicated extraction channel that separates the waste flow from the wall surfaces. This segmentation maintains extraction efficiency while eliminating clogging.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 design effectively reduces the tendency for clogging and ensures reliable waste product removal by maintaining waste products in the central negative pressure zone, preventing contact with the suction element walls and maintaining efficient flow within the device.

Implementation Method 1

a central negative pressure zone is created in the outlet area, spaced apart from the wall. This central negative pressure zone has a lower negative pressure than the negative pressure created in an outer negative pressure zone between the central negative pressure zone and the wall

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNegative pressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP2892706B1Device for suctioning off waste products from a production machine, comprising a suction element
Publication Date: 2019.10.09 WINDMOELLER & HOELSCHER GMBH
  • EP2892706B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2892706B1 patent drawingFigure 3~7
  • EP2892706B1 patent drawingFigure 6

AI summary

The invention relates to a device (1) for suctioning off waste products from a production machine (3), comprising a suction chamber (10) on which at least one suction element (20) is arranged, said suction element extending into a suction space (4) located outside the suction chamber (10) in order to convey waste products into the suction chamber (10). The suction element (20) has an inlet zone (24) that faces the suction chamber (4), and an outlet zone (28) that extends into the suction chamber (10). According to the invention, the suction element (20) has a circumferential wall (30) that is curved in such a way that a central negative-pressure region (51) is formed in the outlet zone (28), at a distance from the wall (30), during the suctioning process, the negative pressure in said region (51) being lower than the negative pressure that builds up in an outer negative-pressure region (52) between the central negative-pressure region (51) and the wall (30), so that the waste products flow substantially through the middle of the suction element (20) and contact of the waste products with the wall (30) can be minimized.