Gear-to-Gear Driven Swing Assembly for Mobile Placer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile placers for constructing and maintaining roadways and distributing materials are labor-intensive and inefficient, with inaccuracies in directing material to specific locations, leading to waste and potential hazards.
Innovation Solution
A mobile material placer with a body, material hopper, feeder conveyor, and pivotally coupled placer conveyor, featuring a gear-to-gear drive mechanism for precise lateral and vertical pivoting, enabled by a high-speed hydraulic or electric drive system, and a remote control system for operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If hydraulic piston-cylinder apparatuses are used to pivot the placer conveyor, then the placer conveyor can be pivoted side-to-side, but the accuracy of pivoting motion is insufficient to precisely direct material to a specific location
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the hydraulic piston-cylinder apparatus with a gear-to-gear drive mechanism. The first gear is fixed to the vertical pivoting axis and the second gear is fixed to the placer conveyor, creating a direct mechanical connection that provides precise, controllable pivoting motion through gear tooth engagement, eliminating the imprecision of hydraulic systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The gear-to-gear drive mechanism acts as an intermediary between the power source and the placer conveyor pivoting system. The meshing gears transmit motion with high precision through their toothed engagement, serving as a mechanical mediator that converts rotational motion into accurate angular positioning of the placer conveyor.
2Manufacturing precision
If a chain-driven sprocket system is used for pivoting, then the placer conveyor can be pivoted, but the accuracy of material placement is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the chain-driven sprocket system with a direct gear-to-gear drive mechanism. The two meshing gears provide a more rigid and precise mechanical connection compared to chain-sprocket systems, eliminating chain slack and sprocket runout that compromise placement precision, while maintaining relatively simple construction.
3Loss of substance
If manual material handling is used, then labor is required for each step, but material is spilled and wasted creating hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile placer is a self-service system that automatically performs material handling, conveyance, and precise placement without requiring manual intervention at each step. The integrated conveyor system and controlled dispensing mechanism handle materials autonomously, eliminating the manual labor steps that cause spillage and waste while significantly improving construction efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile placer combines multiple functions into a single integrated system: material receiving, storage in the hopper, conveyance via the conveyor belt, lateral pivoting for directional control, and precise dispensing. This multi-functional apparatus eliminates the need for separate manual operations for each task, reducing both labor requirements and material loss.
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 rapid, precise, and accurate dispensing of materials across construction sites, reducing labor and waste while enhancing safety by allowing precise material placement and operation in confined spaces.
Implementation Method 1
The first gear is a worm screw and the second gear is a worm wheel. In an embodiment, the worm screw rotates about a substantially horizontal axis and the worm wheel rotates about a substantially vertical axis.
Implementation Method 2
In an embodiment, the worm screw is hydraulically driven. In another embodiment, the worm screw is electrically driven.
Data Source
AI summary
An mobile material placer or slinger with a placer conveyor having a gear-to-gear pivoting mechanism. The mobile material placer includes a body, a material hopper coupled to the body and configured to receive and store material, a feeder conveyor coupled to the body, and a placer conveyor pivotally coupled to the body about a vertical axis. The gear-to-gear pivoting mechanism includes a first gear attached to the body of the material placer and that drives a second gear fixedly mounted to the placer conveyor.