Gearbox With Eccentric Yoke For Adjustable Kneader Stroke
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reciprocating kneaders are inflexible due to the lack of a suitable gearbox that allows adjustable stroke ratio and length, leading to potential collisions between screw flights and pins when rotation and oscillation are not synchronized, limiting their application versatility.
Innovation Solution
A gearbox design with a primary and secondary shaft, rotational and oscillation gears, an eccentric with lobes, and a yoke that ensures invariant stroke ratio through a single drive mechanism, allowing for adjustable stroke ratio and length by changing gear ratios or replacing components like the eccentric.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate drive mechanisms are used for rotation and oscillation, then adjustment flexibility is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to loss of synchronous motion and potential collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines rotation and oscillation drives into a single common drive mechanism. The gear box receives one input rotation and internally generates both rotational output and oscillatory motion from that single source, eliminating the need for separate drive mechanisms and ensuring synchronous motion is maintained through mechanical coupling rather than independent control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an eccentric mechanism within the gear box that converts uniform rotational input into variable oscillatory output. The eccentric cam profile dynamically transforms the constant rotation into controlled reciprocating motion, allowing the oscillation characteristics to be adjusted through the geometry of the eccentric rather than through variable speed control of a separate motor.
2Ease of manufacture
If a fixed stroke ratio design is used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but adaptability deteriorates due to inability to modify screw and pin combinations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the stroke ratio adjustable through a variable mechanism in the gear box, such as an eccentric with adjustable position or a mechanism that allows changing the oscillation amplitude. This enables the same equipment to be adapted to different screw and pin combinations by adjusting the oscillation parameters rather than redesigning the entire system for each application.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the gear box as a universal interface that can accommodate various screw and pin configurations. By providing adjustable stroke ratio and oscillation parameters, a single gear box design can serve multiple applications with different kneading requirements, eliminating the need for application-specific custom designs.
3Device complexity
If stroke ratio and length cannot be adjusted, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity deteriorates due to inability to optimize for different materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates adjustable parameters into the gear box mechanism, such as variable eccentric positions or adjustable oscillation amplitudes, that allow optimization of stroke ratio and length for different materials and applications. These adjustments enable the system to achieve optimal kneading efficiency for various materials without requiring multiple dedicated machines.
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 flexible use of a single kneader unit for various applications by maintaining synchronized rotation and oscillation, preventing catastrophic collisions and allowing easy modification of screw and pin combinations.
Implementation Method 1
An eccentric, comprising lobes, is coupled to the secondary oscillation gear wherein the eccentric rotates in concert with the secondary oscillation gear. A yoke is engaged with the eccentric wherein the yoke oscillates on an axis perpendicular to the gear box secondary shaft in response to contact with the lobes of the eccentric during rotation
Data Source
AI summary
A gear box for a reciprocating kneader. A primary rotational gear is attached to a gear box primary shaft and rotates in concert therewith. A secondary rotational gear is engaged with the primary rotation gear and rotates therewith. A secondary shaft is attached to the secondary rotational gear and rotates therewith. A primary oscillation gear is attached to the gear box primary shaft and rotates therewith. A secondary oscillation gear is rotationally engaged with the primary oscillation gear and rotates on the secondary shaft. An eccentric is coupled to the secondary oscillation gear and rotates in concert therewith. A yoke is engaged with the eccentric and oscillates on an axis perpendicular to the secondary shaft in response to the lobe. The gearbox secondary shaft moves along its axis in concert with yoke oscillation. A housing is pivotally attached to the yoke and pivotally attached to a casing at a casing.