Flexible Mixing Container Quiet Emptying via Pneumatic Deformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mixing containers face challenges in emptying bulk materials without significant noise, particularly when materials tend to form bridges, as conventional methods like vibration motors generate considerable noise.
Innovation Solution
A flexible mixing container with a deformable wall that can be pressed inward to disrupt material bridges, using a pneumatically or hydraulically adjustable piston-cylinder arrangement, allowing for quiet emptying by changing the cavity geometry and collapsing bridges without noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a vibratory motor or knock generator is connected to the mixing container to prevent material bridges, then complete emptying is achieved, but noise level increases considerably
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical vibration system (vibratory motor or knock generator) with a pneumatic system. Compressed air is introduced through distribution elements into the mixing container to fluidize the bulk material and prevent material bridges, thereby eliminating the noise-generating mechanical components while achieving complete emptying
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses compressed air (pneumatics) to fluidize the bulk material in the mixing container. Air distribution elements introduce pressurized air into the material, creating a fluidized state that prevents material bridge formation and enables complete emptying without mechanical vibration, thus resolving the noise issue
2Strength
If the mixing container uses a rigid structure to maintain stability during mixing, then structural integrity is ensured, but the container cannot be deformed to disrupt material bridges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a mixing container with a flexible wall made of elastomeric material that can be deformed by external forces. This flexibility allows the container to be compressed or deformed to disrupt material bridges, while the material properties maintain sufficient structural integrity during normal mixing operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state or parameters of the mixing container by using an elastomeric material that can transition between different degrees of rigidity. The container maintains its shape during mixing but can be deformed when needed to disrupt material bridges, achieving both structural integrity and adaptability
3Object-generated harmful factors
If a flexible mixing container is used to disrupt material bridges by deformation, then quiet emptying is achieved, but the container requires additional support structures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the support function into multiple radial supports distributed around the mixing container. These segmented supports work together to hold the flexible container in its receptacle, providing necessary structural support while allowing localized deformation when needed, thus balancing simplicity with functionality
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
Enables complete and quiet emptying of mixing containers, extending mixing time due to slower pressure increase and reducing noise pollution during the process.
Implementation Method 1
At least the wall enclosing the cavity of the mixing vessel (3) exhibits flexible properties such that it can be deformed by external forces
Implementation Method 2
using a pneumatically or hydraulically adjustable piston-cylinder arrangement, allowing for quiet emptying by changing the cavity geometry and collapsing bridges without noise
Implementation Method 3
The rotary-driven mixing tool serves to generate a flow of the material within the closed mixing chamber
Implementation Method 4
The vibrations induced in the container wall in this way set the material contained in the mixing container in motion and keep it moving during the emptying process, thus fluidizing it to a certain extent
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A mixing container 1 with a top filling opening 5, with a connecting flange 9, 9.1 projecting radially outwards in the area of the top filling opening 5 for connecting the mixing container 1 to the mixing head of an industrial mixing machine, and with a lockable and openable outlet 13 on the underside, comprises a mixing vessel 3, 3.1 forming the cavity 4 of the mixing container 1, with a radially flexible wall 18, 19 enclosing its cavity, and a container frame 2 holding the mixing vessel 3, 3.1 with the connecting flange 9 and the outlet 13. The mixing vessel 3, 3.1 is held on the container frame 2 such that its wall 18, 19 enclosing the cavity 4 is at least partially accessible in the circumferential direction to cause a radial deformation of the same.