Freezing spiral net chain structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Spiral net chains used in refrigeration industry spiral towers break due to expansion and contraction of plastic materials, leading to reduced service life and conveying efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A freezing spiral net chain structure with metal pieces connecting adjacent rotary shafts, restricting deformation caused by cold shrinking, and maintaining a non-stressed state at room temperature and -40°C, using stainless steel or aluminum alloy for enhanced mechanical properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If a plastic spiral network chain is used in a freezing spiral tower, then the chain has light weight and wide heat conduction range, but the chain shrinks and tensions due to expansion and contraction characteristics of plastic material, causing the chain to break
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines plastic chain links with metal components (metal pieces and rotary shafts) to create a composite structure. The plastic links provide light weight and heat conduction, while the metal components provide dimensional stability and resistance to cold shrinkage, resolving the contradiction between weight and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces metal pieces with different thermal expansion coefficients than plastic to compensate for the plastic material's expansion and contraction characteristics. The metal components maintain a non-stressed state across temperature variations, preventing chain breakage while preserving the plastic chain's light weight advantage.
2Productivity
If a plastic spiral network chain is used in a freezing spiral tower, then the chain has large conveying capacity, but the chain breaks due to shrinkage and tension after entering the freezing spiral tower
Solution Approach 1:
The hybrid structure combines the large conveying capacity advantage of plastic chains with the dimensional stability of metal components. The metal pieces and rotary shafts prevent cold shrinkage while maintaining the plastic chain's conveying capability, ensuring both productivity and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies metal reinforcement locally at critical positions (connecting rotary shafts and engagement teeth) rather than throughout the entire chain. This localized strengthening prevents breakage at stress points while preserving the overall light weight and conveying capacity of the plastic chain structure.
3Stability of the object's composition
If metal pieces are added to the freezing spiral net chain structure, then deformation between adjacent rotary shafts is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the chain into modular units with plastic links and metal components as separate elements. The metal pieces are discrete components inserted between plastic links, making the complexity manageable through modular assembly while achieving dimensional stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal pieces act as intermediary elements between adjacent plastic links and rotary shafts. These intermediaries absorb dimensional changes and prevent direct stress transmission to the plastic chain, reducing deformation while adding only minimal structural complexity.
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 increases the service life and stability of the spiral net chain by reducing deformation and preventing breakage due to shrinkage and tension, ensuring reliable conveying performance.
Implementation Method 1
since a coefficient of expansion of metal is smaller than that of plastic, deformation between the adjacent rotary shafts as a result of cold shrinking is restricted
Data Source
AI summary
A freezing spiral net chain structure includes a plurality of chain links successively arranged in a travelling direction of a rail. Transmission teeth are arranged at inner ends of the chain links. Engagement teeth are arranged at two sides of the chain links. The engagement teeth of the adjacent chain links are engaged with each other. Axial holes are disposed between the mutually engaged engagement teeth. Rotary shafts are inserted into the axial holes. A metal piece is connected between outer ends of every two adjacent rotary shafts. The metal piece may bear a load from an outer-end spiral net, and since a coefficient of expansion of metal is smaller than that of plastic, deformation between the adjacent rotary shafts as a result of cold shrinking is reduced. The metal piece is different from the rotary shafts of the plastic spiral conveying net chain in terms of pitch.