Compact Dosing Device Direct Motor Drive Hygiene
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dosing devices for powdery and pourable goods are complex, large, and require numerous parts, including belt or chain drives, which increase maintenance and reduce hygienic efficiency due to multiple surfaces and cavities.
Innovation Solution
A compact dosing device design eliminates unnecessary drive elements by using a direct drive system with two electric motors and integrated gears, reducing complexity and enhancing hygiene through a simplified structure with fewer surfaces and cavities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If belt or chain drives are used to drive the dosing screw and agitator, then the device can transmit power over distances, but the device complexity increases and maintenance effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes belt or chain drive elements from the system entirely. Instead, electric motors are mounted directly on the container wall, with their drive shafts extending through the wall to directly drive the dosing screw and agitator. This extraction of intermediate transmission elements eliminates complexity while maintaining power transmission capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The container wall serves as an intermediary structure that integrates motor mounting and power transmission. The motors are flanged to the container wall, and the container wall itself provides the mounting surface and structural support, eliminating the need for separate drive housings or transmission mechanisms.
2Reliability
If multiple drive elements and intermediate components are used, then power transmission is achieved, but hygienic efficiency deteriorates due to increased surfaces and cavities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates intermediate drive components such as belts, chains, and additional housings that create surfaces and cavities. By mounting motors directly on the container wall and extending drive shafts through the wall, the design removes potential contamination zones while maintaining reliable power transmission to the dosing screw and agitator.
3Ease of manufacture
If a conventional structure with many individual parts is used, then the device can be assembled with standard components, but the overall size increases and compactness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the motor mounting function with the container wall structure. The container wall serves dual purposes as both the process vessel and the motor mounting surface. This integration eliminates separate drive housings and reduces the overall device volume while maintaining assembly flexibility through flanged motor connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The container wall is designed to serve multiple functions: containing the bulk material, providing structural support, and serving as the mounting surface for the electric motors. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed and achieves a more compact overall design.
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 compact design reduces maintenance efforts, enhances hygiene, and achieves a more efficient and reliable operation of the dosing screw and agitator, ensuring homogeneous mixing and precise quantity conveyance of bulk materials.
Implementation Method 1
The first electric motor (8) is connected to the first drive shaft (13) via a clutch (16)
Implementation Method 2
the second electric motor (9) is connected to the second drive shaft (14) via a bevel gear (not shown)
Implementation Method 3
the second electric motor (9) is connected to the second drive shaft (14) via a worm gear (not shown)
Implementation Method 4
A dosing screw (4) extends out of the container (2) through the outlet opening (3). Bulk material is conveyed out of the container (2) by means of the dosing screw (4)
Implementation Method 5
an agitator (5) arranged in the container (2). The agitator (5) constantly mixes the bulk material in the container (2) so that there is a homogeneous mixture
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The device (1) has a funnel-shaped container (2) for retaining a bulk material and provided with an exhaust opening (3). A metering screw (4) is provided with a drive shaft and projects through the opening. An agitator (5) is provided with another drive shaft and arranged in the container. A drive housing (7) is located on the container, where the two drive shafts project into the housing. Two electromotors (8, 9) respectively drive the drive shafts and flanged onto the housing. The drive shafts are arranged concentric to each other, and the container is closed with a base plate (6). The drive shafts are designed as sleeve shafts.