Drum Pulper Lifter Design for Fibre Separation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drum pulpers for processing recycled fibre material face inefficiencies in separating fibres from impurities and require complex structures with multiple seams, leading to potential fragility and increased energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A drum pulper design featuring a lifter that is a uniform part of the casing, extending over the entire length of the slushing and screening parts, with angled plate-like portions and openings to enhance fibre separation and reduce the number of seams, resulting in a stronger, lighter structure with reduced energy requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the drum pulper uses a traditional multi-seam casing structure, then the manufacturing process is simpler for each component, but the overall structure becomes weaker and more fragile
Solution Approach 1:
The lifter and casing are merged into a single uniform component formed from one casing billet, eliminating the need for separate lifter attachments and multiple seams. This integration strengthens the overall structure while reducing structural complexity.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the drum pulper uses a traditional multi-seam casing structure, then each component can be manufactured separately, but the energy consumption increases and manufacturing efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The casing and lifter are combined into a single uniform component that can be manufactured as one piece from a single billet, reducing the number of manufacturing steps, eliminating multiple welding operations, and decreasing overall energy consumption while improving manufacturing efficiency.
3Productivity
If the drum pulper uses a traditional solid casing design, then the structure is simpler, but the fibre separation efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The casing is designed with different properties in different regions: the lifter portions have openings for fibre separation while the connecting portions maintain structural integrity. This local differentiation improves fibre separation efficiency without requiring complete structural redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The lifter portions of the casing are designed with openings that allow fibres to pass through while retaining larger impurities, enabling efficient fibre separation. The porous structure of the lifter regions enhances productivity without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
4Reliability
If the drum pulper uses more seams in the casing, then the structure can be assembled from standard components, but the reliability decreases due to potential weak points
Solution Approach 1:
The casing and lifter are merged into a single uniform component with no seams between them, eliminating weak points and improving structural reliability. The integrated design is manufactured as one piece from a single billet, maintaining ease of manufacture through a streamlined production process.
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 design improves fibre separation efficiency, reduces the number of seams for a stronger structure, decreases energy needed to rotate the drum, and allows for a more efficient manufacturing process with less material usage.
Implementation Method 1
The recycled fibre material to be slushed in the drum pulper rises up in the rotating drum and, at some point, falls down to the bottom of the drum, whereby the fibre material hits the bottom of the drum and become slushed
Implementation Method 2
the lifter comprises openings for allowing the fibre material to pass through the openings of the lifter
Implementation Method 3
the drum comprises a wetting zone for wetting recycled fibre material fed into the drum
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A drum pulper (1) for slushing fibre material (F). The drum pulper (1) comprises a drum (2). The drum (2) comprises a first end (4), a second end (5) and a casing (3) that together define an inner volume of the drum (2), and at least one lifter (15) directed towards the inner volume of the drum. The lifter (15) is a uniform part of the casing (3) of the drum (2) and is formed by bending a casing billet of the casing (3) of the drum (2).