Hammer Mill Shipping Assembly Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing shipping methods for hammer mill hammers result in unnecessary wear and cumbersome replacement processes due to loose packaging during transport, leading to increased downtime and inefficiency.

Innovation Solution

A shipping assembly that includes a body with angled jaws and a stop arm, a spacer holder, and a lock collar holder, designed to securely hold and align hammer mill components, preventing collisions and facilitating efficient assembly and replacement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If hammers are packaged loosely in traditional packaging, then packaging simplicity is maintained, but hammers shift and collide during shipping causing wear and damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehammer wear during transportVSAvoidpackaging structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The packaging structure is segmented into multiple functional components including a container with base, vertical walls, and internal positioning elements (rests, stops, spacers) that divide the container into distinct zones for holding multiple hammers separately, preventing collisions while maintaining packaging effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The packaging structure is designed with pre-positioned rests, stops, and spacers that automatically guide and secure hammers in their correct positions during insertion, preventing shifts and collisions before they occur during transport

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If hammers are individually unpackaged and assembled, then proper assembly is ensured, but replacement time increases causing hammer mill downtime

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehammer replacement speedVSAvoidhammer mill downtime

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple hammers are pre-assembled with spacers in the correct sequence and orientation during packaging, so that when the packaging is opened, the hammers are ready for immediate installation without requiring individual assembly operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The packaging structure combines multiple hammers, spacers, and positioning elements into a single integrated assembly unit that can be installed as one operation, reducing the number of separate assembly steps required

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If hammers are secured firmly in packaging, then wear during transport is prevented, but unpackaging and assembly becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehammer protection during shippingVSAvoidunpackaging and assembly process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The packaging structure incorporates pre-positioned rests, stops, and spacers that automatically secure hammers in the correct positions during transport, while these same elements are designed to be easily released or removed during unpackaging, maintaining both protection and ease of operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The packaging structure acts as an intermediary that provides secure holding during transport through its structured design, but is itself designed to be easily removed or disassembled, transferring the hammer from protected storage to installation position without creating operational complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20230249891A1Shipping assembly for hammermill hammers

Publication Date: 2023.08.10 CPM ACQUISITION CORP

AI summary

A shipping assembly to transport various components of a hammer mill including a hammer, a spacer, and/or a lock collar. The shipping assembly may hold a hammer in a pair of jaws that aligns an opening in the hammer with a spacer held in a collar or a lock collar held in a pair of exterior prongs so that a rod can be inserted through the components. A handle may be received through a stop arm to further secure the hammer mill components and simplify install into the hammer mill.