Bulk Material Dryer with Adjustable Spring Stiffness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vibration dryers for bulk materials are limited by high overall weight due to counter-oscillating frames, restricting maximum length and incurring increased costs, and fluid bed dryers lack amplitude adjustability.
Innovation Solution
A device with a receptacle connected via rigid link elements and spring elements to a base frame, allowing non-resonant oscillations with adjustable amplitude by varying spring stiffness, eliminating the need for a counter-oscillating frame and enabling longer lengths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a counter-oscillating frame is used to provide mass balance in resonant vibrating dryers, then minimal residual dynamic forces are transmitted into the subsoil, but the overall weight increases significantly and the maximum length is limited to approximately 15 m
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the counter-oscillating frame from the system entirely. Instead of using a counter-oscillating frame to provide mass balance, the patent uses a single oscillating receptacle supported by spring elements and guide elements, removing the need for the additional counter-frame structure that caused the weight increase and length limitation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention inverts the traditional resonant vibration approach by using non-resonant vibrations. Instead of operating at the natural frequency of the system to achieve fluidization, the patent uses vibrations at frequencies different from the natural frequency, supported by adjustable spring stiffness, thereby eliminating the need for a counter-oscillating frame.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a counter-oscillating frame is used to provide mass balance, then minimal residual dynamic forces are transmitted into the subsoil, but the maximum length of the dryer is limited to approximately 15 m
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the counter-oscillating frame that imposed the 15 m length limitation. By using a single receptacle supported by spring elements and guide elements, the system can achieve longer lengths without the structural constraints imposed by the counter-frame configuration.
3Weight of stationary object
If a rigid eccentric drive via coupling rods and toggle levers is used in a guide-guided fluidized-bed dryer, then the dryer can be supported on a base frame without a counter-oscillating frame, but the oscillation amplitude can only be operated at a constant value and cannot be adjusted
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces dynamic adjustability to the spring stiffness of the spring elements supporting the receptacle. By making the spring stiffness adjustable, the oscillation amplitude can be varied during operation, transforming a static system into a dynamic one that can adapt to different processing requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter of spring stiffness to enable amplitude adjustment. By varying the spring stiffness of the spring elements, the natural frequency and oscillation amplitude of the receptacle can be adjusted, providing versatility in operation.
4Weight of moving object
If non-resonant oscillations are used instead of resonant vibrations, then the need for a counter-oscillating frame is eliminated and weight is reduced, but the system requires precise control of oscillation amplitude and frequency
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses dynamic spring elements with adjustable stiffness to simplify control. The spring elements provide inherent damping and frequency response characteristics that reduce the need for complex active control systems, while still enabling non-resonant oscillations.
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 achieves a weight savings of up to 40% and allows for significantly longer dryer lengths, with adjustable amplitude and frequency of oscillations, enhancing energy efficiency and operational flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
the receptacle is movably connected to a rigid base frame, which is intended for arrangement on a substrate, via a plurality of, preferably rigid, link elements and a plurality of spring elements
Implementation Method 2
a gas, particularly air, can be introduced into the bulk material from below to dry and/or cool the bulk material
Implementation Method 3
Gas may be heated, especially for drying purposes
Implementation Method 4
By causing the receptacle to vibrate, the bulk material can be brought into a fluidized state without the gas pressure having to be particularly high
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A device (1) for drying and/or cooling bulk material (S), comprising a receptacle (2) for the bulk material (S), wherein the receptacle (2) is movably connected via several, preferably rigid, linkage elements (4) and several spring elements (5) to a rigid base frame (6), which is provided for placement on a surface, wherein the linkage elements (4) are rotatably mounted on the receptacle (2) and on the base frame (6), the device (1) further comprising at least one drive (8) for setting the receptacle (2) into non-resonant vibrations relative to the base frame (6). According to the invention, the amplitude (A) of the vibrations is adjustable by adjusting the spring stiffness of the spring elements (5).