Dry Ice Container With Sloped Bottom And Movable Gutter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dry ice containers for two-hose dry ice blasting devices face issues with pellet degradation due to humidity, leading to lump formation, which hinders device function, and have complex constructions that can result in pellet blocking and cluster generation, despite previous solutions.
Innovation Solution
A dry ice container with a sloped bottom and a linear-movable member in the form of a gutter with separated openings, connected to a pneumatic cylinder, which uses auxiliary air to prevent pellet clustering by ensuring continuous flow and efficient operation, featuring a simpler design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If atmospheric air is supplied through the entire volume of the container to draw out dry ice pellets, then the pellets can be transported to the blast gun, but the humidity in the air causes degradation and lump formation of the pellets
Solution Approach 1:
The container bottom is divided into multiple separate openings (first opening, second opening, third opening) instead of a single large opening. This segmentation allows for distributed air flow through specific zones, reducing the overall volume of air that contacts the pellets and minimizing humidity-induced degradation while maintaining transport efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the container bottom are assigned different functions: the first opening is dedicated to drawing out pellets, while the second and third openings are dedicated to supplying auxiliary air locally. This local quality differentiation ensures that auxiliary air is supplied only where needed for pellet movement, rather than throughout the entire container volume, thus reducing pellet exposure to humid air.
2Reliability
If a complex device construction is used to prevent pellet blocking and ensure continuous flow, then pellet transport can be maintained, but the device complexity increases and may still lead to cluster generation
Solution Approach 1:
A linear-movable member is introduced that can move back and forth in response to auxiliary air pressure. This dynamic element actively prevents pellet blocking by disrupting pellet accumulation, ensuring continuous flow without requiring complex mechanical mechanisms. The simplicity of the movable member design avoids the complexity issues associated with more elaborate anti-blocking devices.
Solution Approach 2:
Auxiliary air is used to actuate the linear-movable member and to directly influence pellet flow behavior. By utilizing pneumatic pressure from the auxiliary air supply, the system achieves reliable continuous pellet transport without complex mechanical actuators, motors, or control systems, thereby maintaining low device complexity while ensuring operational reliability.
3Device complexity
If the container bottom has a single large opening for pellet discharge, then pellet flow is simple, but pellet blocking and cluster formation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The single large opening is segmented into multiple smaller openings (first, second, and third openings) with specific functions. The first opening handles pellet discharge while the second and third openings handle auxiliary air supply. This segmentation prevents pellet blocking by distributing the flow across multiple channels and allows auxiliary air to be supplied locally to maintain continuous flow without requiring a single complex large opening.
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 solution effectively reduces pellet clustering and ensures a continuous, unobstructed flow of dry ice pellets to the blast gun, enhancing the operational efficiency and reliability of dry ice cleaning devices.
Implementation Method 1
supply of auxiliary air is discharged above the bottom (4) of the container (1)... The linear-movable member (5) is arranged in a chamber (6) at the bottom (4) of the container (1)
Implementation Method 2
the container (1) has the bottom (4) sloped towards the opening (3) for drawing out the pellets
Implementation Method 3
one line supplies compressed air and the second line supplies dry ice pellets using negative pressure
Data Source
AI summary
Dry ice container for dry ice cleaning devices comprises the container for dry ice closed by the lid (2) on the upper side, and provided by the opening (3) for drawing out dry ice pellets on the lower side. The container (1) has the bottom (4) sloped towards the opening (3) for drawing out the pellets. The linear-movable member (5) is arranged in the chamber (6) at the bottom (4) of the container (1) transversely to the axis of the container (1). The member (5) has the shape of a gutter in which groups of separated openings (5a, 5b, 5c) are provided, to which at least one pellets plowing element (5d) is placed in the member (5). Each group of openings (5a, 5b, 5c) pertains to one opening (3) for drawing out the pellets.