Gripping Device Heat Sink Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing spinner systems in container manufacturing lines face challenges with excessive heating, leading to deformation and jamming of preforms due to thermal inertia, which results in unreliable thermal regulation and potential production line disruptions.
Innovation Solution
A hollow body gripping device with a free-rotating shaft, mandrel, radiator, spacer, expandable ring, and an insert made of high thermal conductivity material acting as a heat pipe for efficient heat dissipation, reducing the operating temperature and improving thermal regulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the preform is heated to high temperature (120°C) in the oven, then the preform body and bottom are softened for molding, but the mandrel and chuck accumulate excessive heat causing thermal deformation and jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The mandrel is divided into distinct functional sections: a heating section that receives infrared radiation for softening the preform, and a gripping section that remains cooler for precise positioning. The radiator is segmented into multiple fins to increase heat dissipation surface area, allowing different parts of the mandrel to serve different thermal functions simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The radiator acts as an intermediary thermal management component between the heating section and the gripping section. It intercepts heat from the heating section through conduction and dissipates it to the environment via convection and radiation through its finned structure, preventing heat accumulation at the gripping section and maintaining reliable thermal regulation.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the mandrel is heated during preform softening, then the preform body becomes moldable, but the thermal inertia causes excessive heat accumulation leading to deformation
Solution Approach 1:
Different sections of the mandrel are given different thermal properties: the heating section has high thermal conductivity to absorb and transfer infrared radiation for softening the preform body, while the gripping section is thermally isolated to maintain lower temperatures. The radiator is positioned to provide localized cooling where needed, creating non-uniform thermal distribution optimized for both molding and precision gripping.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the chuck operates at high temperature, then heat transfer to the preform neck occurs, but this causes excessive expansion and jamming in the neck
Solution Approach 1:
The radiator serves as a thermal intermediary that intercepts heat from the heating section and dissipates it before it can reach the gripping section. This creates a thermal barrier that allows the heating section to operate at high temperature for effective preform softening while keeping the gripping section cool enough to prevent excessive expansion and ensure easy insertion and extraction of the preform neck.
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
This solution ensures better thermal regulation and efficient heat evacuation, maintaining the spinner's operating temperature below 60°C, enhancing the reliability and efficiency of the container manufacturing process.
Implementation Method 1
an insert made of a material with high thermal conductivity, embedded in a housing provided in the end piece and emerging on a free end face of the end piece, the insert extending to the right of the radiator
Implementation Method 2
the function of the radiator 160, provided with a series of fins 161, is to limit the heating of the mandrel (and therefore of the neck of the preform fitted thereon), by heat exchange with the ambient air
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
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AI summary
Device (12) for grasping hollow bodies (2), which includes: - a shaft (13) free to rotate; - a chuck (30) integral with the shaft (13), this chuck (30) comprising: ∘ a nozzle (31), ∘ a heat sink (51) mounted directly on the nozzle (31), ∘ a spacer (57) interposed between the nozzle (31) and the heat sink (51), ∘ an expanding ring (62) mounted between the nozzle (31) and the spacer (57), ∘ an elastic element (66) mounted between the nozzle (31) and the expanding ring (62), ∘ an insert (67) made of a material with high thermal conductivity, set in a housing (50) formed in the nozzle (31) and opening onto a free end face (32) thereof, the insert (67) extending to the right of the heat sink (51).