Eccentric Shaker Tray Shaft Isolating Drive From Contamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shakers face significant cleaning challenges due to contamination from liquids and solids during high-frequency shaking, which affects the efficiency and longevity of the equipment.
Innovation Solution
A shaker design featuring an eccentrically mounted tray shaft within a hollow shaft, secured against rotation relative to the frame, with a cover to contain spills and an elastic element for mechanical accuracy compensation, allowing for high shaking frequencies while minimizing contamination exposure to the drive mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high shaking frequency is used, then mixing efficiency is improved, but contamination of the drive mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shaker is divided into two distinct zones: a contamination-prone zone containing the tray and sample vessels, and a protected zone containing the drive mechanism. The cover creates a physical segmentation that isolates the drive from contaminants while allowing the tray to operate at high shaking frequencies for efficient mixing.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover acts as an intermediary barrier between the tray and the drive mechanism. It allows the transmission of mechanical motion from the drive to the tray while preventing direct contact between contaminants and the drive components, thus mediating the interaction between these two elements.
2Productivity
If high shaking frequency is used, then mixing efficiency is improved, but cleaning effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is designed as a removable component that segments the cleaning task into two parts: the cover and tray shaft can be removed and cleaned separately, while the protected drive mechanism requires minimal cleaning. This segmentation reduces overall cleaning effort despite high shaking frequency operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover and tray shaft are extracted as removable components from the main drive assembly. This allows them to be easily removed and cleaned separately, taking the contamination burden away from the permanent drive mechanism and significantly reducing cleaning effort.
3Manufacturing precision
If tray shaft is secured against rotation, then shaking precision is improved, but mechanical stress on bearings increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional approach of securing the tray against rotation with a mechanism that secures the tray shaft. This substitution allows the tray to have controlled rotational movement while maintaining shaking precision, thereby reducing mechanical stress on the bearings compared to rigid fixation methods.
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 enables efficient cleaning and achieves high shaking frequencies up to 1600 rpm, reducing contamination risks and extending equipment lifespan by isolating the drive from contaminants and balancing mechanical inaccuracies.
Implementation Method 1
a tray shaft (8) mounted eccentrically in a drivable hollow shaft (7)
Implementation Method 2
The bearing enables low-friction rotation and high shaking frequencies in a compact design
Data Source
AI summary
Shaker comprising a frame, a tray for receiving one or more samples and a drive for the tray, in which a tray shaft is mounted eccentrically in a drivable hollow shaft. The tray shaft is fixedly connected to the tray and secured against rotation relative to the frame.