Helical Ribbon Mixing Gear With Tooth Profile

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing helical ribbon mixing gears face issues with material strain and obstructed emptying due to a fixed small distance between the helical ribbon and the mixing vessel wall, leading to undue friction and difficulties in handling granular materials.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of an outer tooth profile with a radial profile depth smaller than the ribbon width and a circular tooth spacing of one to ten times the profile depth, along with an optional inner tooth profile, reduces material strain and enhances mixing performance by creating periodic lifting variations and improved flow, facilitating easier emptying.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the helical ribbon is positioned close to the mixing vessel wall to provide lifting friction, then material uplift is improved, but material strain and wear on the vessel wall increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial upliftVSAvoidmaterial strain

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The continuous helical ribbon is segmented into discrete teeth with spacing of one to ten times the profile depth. This segmentation creates periodic lifting variations that reduce continuous material strain while maintaining effective uplift through the concentrated action of individual teeth.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The tooth profile creates localized interaction zones between the helical ribbon and material, concentrating the lifting action at specific points rather than continuously along the entire ribbon surface. This localizes the harmful friction and strain effects to minimal areas while maintaining overall lifting effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If the helical ribbon is positioned close to the mixing vessel wall to provide lifting friction, then material uplift is improved, but emptying of granular material is obstructed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial upliftVSAvoidemptying

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The continuous ribbon is divided into spaced teeth, creating gaps between adjacent teeth. These gaps provide channels for granular material to flow downward during emptying operations, preventing obstruction while the teeth themselves continue to provide lifting friction for upward conveyance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The periodic tooth structure creates alternating zones of high friction (on the teeth) and low resistance (in the gaps). During rotation, this periodic action allows material to be lifted on the teeth while gravity and reduced resistance in the gaps facilitate downward flow during emptying.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Adaptability or versatility

If a height adjustment drive is used to adjust the distance towards the wall, then adaptability to different materials is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedistance adjustmentVSAvoidpositioning operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using a mechanical adjustment drive, the invention changes the geometric parameters of the helical ribbon itself by incorporating teeth with specific spacing ratios (one to ten times the profile depth). This parameter-based solution provides adaptability to different materials without adding complex positioning mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 configuration reduces material strain, improves mixing efficiency, and ensures effective emptying by providing sufficient lifting friction while minimizing wear on the vessel wall, allowing for efficient upward conveying and oscillation of the material, even when the helical ribbon is inclined towards the wall.

Implementation Method 1

the helical ribbon has a continuous small distance to the mixing vessel wall, which creates a friction of the introduced material to be mixed against the wall, causing an uplift of the material to be mixed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

periodic lifting variations form in the circular areas above the tooth profile, which generate a mixing function advantageously moderating the main flow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPeriodic action:

Implementation Method 3

In axial orientation, according to the altitude of the profile teeth, the material to be mixed forms circular areas which are conveyed in an alternately increasing and decreasing manner

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHelical motion: Helix

Data Source

PatentUS8100578B2Helical ribbon mixing gear

Publication Date: 2012.01.24 RAMHORST BERND

AI summary

The invention relates to a helical ribbon mixing gear with a mixing vessel (1), the inside of which is axially symmetrical, and a motor-driven central agitator axis (2) with laterally extending agitator anus (30, 31, 32) to which at least one sloping helical ribbon (4) with a circular inclination in a direction of rotation (D) is attached, an outer edge of the helical ribbon (40) being positioned near to a mixing vessel wall (10), an outer tooth profile (50-52) being formed at the wall-sided edge of the helical ribbon (40), with a radial profile depth (T) which is smaller than a radially adjacent ribbon width (B), and with a circular tooth spacing (W) of one to ten times the profile depth (T).