Gravity Dosing Device for High Moisture Bulk Materials
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dosing and conveying devices for bulk materials, particularly those with high moisture content or fibrous substances, face challenges in precise conveying due to poor flow characteristics, and existing auger feeders are not suitable for such materials.
Innovation Solution
A dosing and conveying device featuring a downpipe with a material cone forming element and a discharge element, where the dosing element can be rotated, operating on the gravimetric principle, with rotationally symmetrical components to facilitate smooth flow and precise metering without accumulation of material at corners or edges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If auger feeders with screws are used for conveying bulk material, then conveying capability is improved, but they become unsuitable for bulk materials with high moisture content or fibrous substances due to poor flow characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the screw/auger component entirely from the conveying system. Instead of using a rotating auger, the invention employs a gravity-based system where bulk material flows freely through a vertical downpipe, eliminating the fundamental incompatibility with high moisture and fibrous materials while maintaining conveying capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the conventional conveying approach by using gravity flow in the opposite direction of traditional auger feeding. Material flows downward through a vertical pipe under gravity, and dosing is achieved by controlling the discharge at the bottom rather than pushing from the top, making it suitable for materials that cannot be mechanically conveyed.
2Measurement precision
If precise dosing is required for bulk materials, then dosing precision is improved, but existing devices fail to provide reliable dosing for materials with poor flow characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a self-leveling dosing mechanism where the rotatable dosing element with radial openings automatically regulates material flow. The gravity-fed system self-adjusts to maintain consistent dosing without external control, as the material flow rate naturally equalizes when the dosing element is properly positioned, ensuring both precision and reliability for difficult materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a rotatable dosing element that can be dynamically adjusted to different angular positions to control the effective dosing area. This dynamic adjustment capability allows precise control of material flow rate by varying the number and orientation of active radial openings, providing reliable dosing for materials with poor flow characteristics.
3Ease of manufacture
If rotationally symmetrical components are used in the dosing device, then manufacturing simplicity and ease of cleaning are improved, but structural complexity may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite structure combining a vertical downpipe, a rotatable dosing element with radial openings, and a discharge mechanism. This composite design integrates multiple functions (conveying, dosing, and discharge control) into a unified system where rotationally symmetrical components simplify manufacturing while the overall structure remains relatively simple despite the dynamic dosing mechanism.
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 precise and reliable conveying of bulk materials with high moisture content or solids, suitable for both industrial and agricultural applications, ensuring efficient dosing and conveying without the need for screws, thus addressing the limitations of existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
The dosing and conveying device according to the invention works according to the gravimetric principle, i.e. the bulk material runs through the downpipe in free fall
Implementation Method 2
works according to the gravimetric principle
Implementation Method 3
a material cone forming element defining a passage gap... The element cone of repose is designed in such a way that a cone of repose is formed
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A metering an conveying apparatus (10) which can be used industrially and agriculturally should be designed such that it is possible to meter and convey contents with solid fractions or bands and also bulk material with a moisture content. According to the invention, a vertical pipe (11) is connected to a supply container, a material-cone-forming element (13), a metering element (14) and a discharging element (15) being arranged, at a distance from one another in each case, in the vertical pipe. The metering element (14) and/or the material-cone-forming element (13) can be driven. The metering and conveying apparatus according to the invention is particularly suitable for metering animal feed and recyclable waste.