Rotary Drum Skinsheet Clamp for Cleanable Tension Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prior rotary drum blancher/coolers face challenges with clamps that are not durable, difficult to retrofit, lose tension over time, and fail to provide adequate access for cleaning between structural channels and skinsheets, compromising the integrity and longevity of the cylinder structure.
Innovation Solution
A clamp design featuring a bolt with a groove and a slot/hole combination, along with a nut, that securely holds skinsheets to structural channels without rotating, allowing for easy cleaning and retrofitting to existing blancher/coolers by loosening the nut to release the skinsheet for access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If bolted-on skinsheets are used to create a tight strong cylinder, then the structural strength is improved, but the cleanability deteriorates due to overlapping areas
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp assembly is divided into separate components: clamp body, bolt, nut, and washer. This segmentation allows the skinsheet to be easily detached by removing the bolt and nut, providing full cleaning access to the interface between the drum and skinsheet while maintaining structural strength when assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp design transitions from a static bolted connection to a dynamic assembly that can be easily assembled and disassembled. The combination of bolt, nut, and washer creates a adjustable connection that can be tightened to maintain drum integrity during operation and loosened to provide cleaning access.
2Ease of manufacture
If totally removable skinsheets are used to provide full cleaning access, then the cleanability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to cumbersome removal and installation
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp assembly is segmented into multiple components that can be quickly assembled and disassembled. The clamp body remains attached to the drum while only the bolt, nut, and washer need to be removed for cleaning, significantly reducing the effort required compared to removing entire skinsheet sections.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening components (bolt, nut, washer) are extracted as separate removable parts from the clamp body. This allows the essential clamp structure to remain in place while only the necessary fastening elements are removed for cleaning access, making the process much simpler than removing entire skinsheets.
3Ease of manufacture
If CIP skinsheet clamps are used to loosen during cleaning, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to loosening over time and insufficient tension
Solution Approach 1:
The washer is positioned to contact the skinsheet before the bolt is fully tightened. This preliminary contact point ensures proper distribution of clamping force and prevents the clamp from loosening over time by maintaining consistent tension on the skinsheet during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp design allows for adjustment of clamping force through the bolt and nut mechanism. The operator can tighten the nut to achieve the appropriate tension level, ensuring reliable skinsheet attachment that maintains drum integrity during rotation and operation while still allowing for cleaning when loosened.
4Ease of manufacture
If clamps are designed to be easily adjusted and retrofitted, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the strength deteriorates due to reduced tightening capability
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp assembly is segmented into a stationary clamp body attached to the drum and removable fastening components (bolt, nut, washer). This segmentation provides ease of installation and adjustment while the bolt and nut mechanism maintains sufficient tightening capability to secure the skinsheet firmly to the drum.
Solution Approach 2:
The washer acts as an intermediary element between the bolt and skinsheet, distributing the clamping force evenly across the skinsheet surface. This intermediary component enables the clamp to achieve adequate tension and secure attachment while maintaining simple, adjustable construction that can be retrofitted to existing drums.
Data Source
AI summary
A rotary drum blancher/cooler includes skinsheet sections alternating with structural channels and clamps. The skinsheet sections and channels have sidewalls. Each clamp includes at least a portion of a clamp bar, a bolt, a slot and hole combination, and a nut. The clamp bar holds each skinsheet sidewall between the channel sidewall and the clamp bar. The bolt extends through a hole in the clamp bar. The bolt has a first partially threaded end and a second end with at least one groove. One end is within the channel, and the other outside. A slot and hole combination is located in at least one of a retaining plate, channel sidewall and clamp bar. The bolt can pass through the hole of the slot and hole combination, and the groove(s) in the bolt are disposed within the slot to prevent rotation of the bolt. The nut is on the first end, and may be tightened or loosened to tighten or loosen the skinsheet side wall to the channel sidewall.