Fixed-Radius Conveyor Belt With Offset Eye Parts for Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional conveyor belts made from identical modules tend to rattle and generate noise, especially when making sharp turns, and require complex and costly molding processes due to the need for precise curvature matching of intermeshing eye parts.
Innovation Solution
A fixed radius conveyor belt system with offset eye parts and reinforcement ribs, where adjacent modules interfit laterally with taps and receiving cavities, minimizing noise and wear by using a detachable connection and optimized module design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional conveyor belts are made from identical modules with lateral aperture connections, then the conveyor belt can be assembled and disassembled easily, but the modules tend to rattle and generate noise especially during sharp turns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by providing offset eye parts on the modules. Instead of symmetric lateral apertures, the eye parts are positioned at different locations on adjacent modules, creating an interlocking arrangement that eliminates rattling and noise during operation, particularly during sharp turns.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements nesting by having eye parts of one module interfit within eye parts of adjacent modules. The offset eye parts are arranged such that they nest together in a interlocking pattern, creating a stable connection that prevents relative movement and noise generation.
2Reliability
If eye parts are designed with curved sides following different radii to match turning paths, then wear and noise are minimized, but the molding process becomes more complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing eye parts with different curvature radii on different sides. The first side of the eye part has a curvature radius matching the inner turning path, while the second side has a curvature radius matching the outer turning path. This localized differentiation optimizes wear and noise performance at each specific location without requiring complete redesign of all components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the eye part design into distinct curved sides with different radii. Each side is independently optimized for its specific rotational path, allowing the complex curved geometry to be manufactured as a single integrated component rather than requiring assembly of multiple parts.
3Adaptability or versatility
If modular belt links are used to assemble conveyor belts, then flexibility and ease of assembly are improved, but the intermeshing eye parts require precise curvature matching increasing manufacturing cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves universality by designing modules with offset eye parts that can be used in various conveyor belt configurations. The same module design with asymmetric eye parts can be used for different turning radii and conveyor applications, reducing the number of unique parts needed and simplifying manufacturing compared to custom-curved components.
Data Source
AI summary
A fixed radius conveyor belt system of the type assembled from a plurality of substantially identical belt modules is provided. The fixed radius conveyor belt system is assembled from a plurality of belt modules, each having a leading edge and a trailing edge, and an inner side and an outer side and with a modular belt body between therebetween, and where a plurality of eye parts extend from the leading and trailing edges and are off-set on one edge relative to the other edge, such that two adjacent like modular belt links are pushed together. The leading edge and the trailing edge are arranged with a mutual angle β, such that an axis through the leading axis will intercept an axis through the trailing edge in a turning center, such that eye parts further away from the turning center will have curved sides following ever larger circle radiuses.