Disk Screen Idle Sleeve Stabilization for Filiform Obstruction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Disk screens in solid material separation processes are prone to operational disruptions due to filiform elements like cables and rags, which cause obstruction and require frequent maintenance, and existing solutions with idle sleeves can allow small materials to drive the sleeves' rotation, compromising their anti-twisting action.

Innovation Solution

The disk screen design incorporates sleeves with annular shoulders that fit into central depressions on the disks, preventing unwanted rotation and ensuring the sleeves remain idle, while spacers maintain the correct disk spacing to prevent material insertion and mechanical connection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If idle sleeves are interposed between the disks to prevent filiform elements from obstructing the screen area, then the reliability of the screen is improved, but small materials can be inserted into the clearance between the sleeves and disks, driving the sleeves in rotation and compromising their anti-twisting action

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescreen operation reliabilityVSAvoidsmall material insertion into clearance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A stabilizing mass is introduced as an intermediary element within the idle sleeve to prevent small materials from driving the sleeve's rotation. The stabilizing mass acts as a mediator that absorbs or counteracts the force exerted by small materials, ensuring the sleeve remains idle and maintains its anti-twisting function while still allowing filiform elements to pass through without obstruction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the sleeves are allowed to freely rotate on the shaft to accommodate filiform elements, then the screen area obstruction is reduced, but the sleeves may be driven in rotation by small materials, compromising their anti-twisting action

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanti-twisting functionVSAvoidsleeve rotation control
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The stabilizing mass functions as a counterweight that balances and neutralizes the driving force exerted by small materials on the idle sleeve. This counteracting force ensures the sleeve maintains its intended idle rotation characteristic and does not get driven by small materials, thereby preserving the anti-twisting action while still accommodating filiform elements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

3Reliability

If repeated maintenance operations are performed to clean the screen from twisted filiform elements, then the screen area is restored, but production stops occur and productivity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescreen area clearanceVSAvoidproduction continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The idle sleeves with stabilizing masses provide a self-service mechanism that automatically prevents filiform elements from twisting and obstructing the screen area during operation. The sleeves' idle rotation allows filiform elements to pass through without getting tangled, eliminating the need for repeated maintenance operations and ensuring continuous production without stops

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3085462B1Disk screen for separating solid materials
Publication Date: 2020.01.01 ECOSTAR
  • EP3085462B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3085462B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3085462B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Disk screen for separating solid residues, provided with multiple parallel rotation shafts (3), each of which carrying, associated therewith, a plurality of disks (8) mounted spaced from each other in succession along the extension thereof. A plurality of sleeves (10) provided with a tubular body (11) are externally and idly mounted on the rotation shafts (3) between pairs of disks (8) in succession. The lateral faces of the aforesaid disks (8) have a central depression (12) of circular form, in which the annular shoulders (13) of each sleeve (10) are inserted, such shoulders fixed to the ends of the corresponding tubular body (11).