Granular Material Purification via Centrifugal and Gravitational Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for separating impurities from granular materials, such as cereal grains and seeds, are inefficient in removing both light and heavy impurities and require repeated alternate positioning of centrifugal and centripetal modules, increasing the device's size and cost, and often allow heavier impurities to fall with the purified material.
Innovation Solution
A device with a vertical cylindrical body featuring a motor-driven fan, a centrifugal guide with directing elements, and openwork hinder plates on the feed channel, combined with a multi-conical reducer and symmetrical troughs for purified material, which uses air currents and surface geometry to separate light and heavy impurities effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If repeated alternate positioning of centrifugal and centripetal modules is used to achieve thorough purification, then purification efficiency is improved, but device complexity and overall dimensions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines centrifugal and centripetal guide modules into a single integrated body structure, eliminating the need for separate repeated modules. The centrifugal guide with directing elements and centripetal guide with directing plates are positioned concentrically within the same housing, achieving thorough purification through their cooperative action without increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested structure where the centrifugal guide module is positioned inside the body, and the centripetal guide module is positioned inside the centrifugal guide module. This nested arrangement allows both guide types to operate within the same spatial envelope, achieving comprehensive separation without requiring repeated alternate positioning that would increase overall dimensions.
2Reliability
If repeated alternate positioning of centrifugal and centripetal modules is used to achieve thorough purification, then purification efficiency is improved, but overall dimensions of the device increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functional components of centrifugal and centripetal guides into a single compact body structure. The concentric arrangement of directing elements and directing plates within the same housing achieves thorough purification in a space-efficient design, avoiding the increased overall dimensions that would result from repeated alternate positioning of separate modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The nested configuration places the centrifugal guide inside the body and the centripetal guide inside the centrifugal guide, creating a compact concentric structure. This nesting approach achieves comprehensive impurity separation while maintaining small overall dimensions, as both guide types operate within the same spatial envelope rather than requiring sequential positioning.
3Device complexity
If conventional separation methods are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but heavy impurities fall together with purified material
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the separation process into distinct functional zones: the centrifugal guide handles light impurity removal through centrifugal forces, while the centripetal guide handles heavy impurity removal through gravitational settling. This segmentation of functions within a single integrated body achieves both light and heavy impurity separation without requiring complex repeated positioning mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary air stream that interacts with the granular material in the feed channel. This air stream, generated by the fan and directed through the feed channel, facilitates the separation process by interacting with both light and heavy impurities, enabling their removal from the purified material without requiring complex mechanical separation mechanisms.
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 device achieves thorough purification by separating heavy impurities by gravity and light impurities through air streams, ensuring both types are removed efficiently, resulting in fully purified granular material.
Implementation Method 1
a motor-driven fan that sucks air and an outlet channel for light impurities
Implementation Method 2
a centrifugal guide in the form of an axial member on the surface of which there are mounted directing elements with their ends being pointed towards the inner wall of the cylinder
Implementation Method 3
a multi-conical reducer slowing down the gravitational flow of the granular material
Implementation Method 4
a plurality of openwork hinder plates fixed to the outer surface of the feed channel, in various transverse planes in each plane, their ends being pointed obliquely upwards towards the inner wall of the body
Data Source
AI summary
A device for separation and removal of light impurities from granular material has a cylindrical body, in the upper part of which is located a motor-driven fan that sucks air and an outlet channel for light impurities, below which there is axially mounted a feed channel connected to a container of granular material, and in the lower part of the body there is axially located a cylinder with an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter (d) of the body, containing a centrifugal guide located under the outlet of the feed channel, whereas below the centrifugal guide, on the inner wall of the cylinder are fixed uniformly spaced directing plates at a certain distance from each other, their ends being pointed towards the axis of the device, and between the body and the cylinder there is a chute for purified material. There is a plurality of openwork hinders.