Hollow Piston Dosing Device for Powdery Solids

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for dosing and conveying powdery and free-flowing solids face challenges with materials that form lumps or experience excessive resistance due to compression and friction, leading to blockages and inefficiencies, particularly with granules and dust.

Innovation Solution

A device with a speed-controlled piston designed as a hollow body with openings at the inlet and outlet, allowing materials to flow through and reducing internal pressure, thus minimizing friction and compression, and using a wiper bearing for pressure equalization and smooth material transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a piston pushes a horizontal column of solids forward in a conventional device, then the material can be conveyed, but excessive resistance and compression occur causing blockages and increased drive power requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconveying capabilityVSAvoidresistance force
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of pushing the material forward with a piston (conventional approach), the invention inverts the approach by allowing the material to fall into the piston from above. The piston moves upward to receive and carry the material, eliminating the horizontal pushing action that causes compression and resistance. This inversion of the conveying mechanism directly resolves the contradiction between conveying capability and resistance force.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the conventional mechanical pushing system with a gravitational feeding system. Material falls into the piston from the inlet funnel under gravity, and the piston carries it upward. This substitution of the mechanical pushing action with gravitational feeding eliminates the compression and friction forces that cause blockages, while maintaining conveying capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If the piston compresses the solid column to enable conveying, then material can be moved, but lumps and lumps form causing blockages in pneumatic conveying

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial transportVSAvoidconveying reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention inverts the conventional pushing mechanism into an upward carrying motion. The piston moves upward to receive and transport material, preventing the compression that occurs during horizontal pushing. This inversion eliminates the formation of lumps and cake layers, ensuring reliable pneumatic conveying without blockages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention provides beforehand cushioning by allowing material to fall into the piston from above before the piston moves upward. This gravitational feeding action cushions the material against compression forces, preventing lump formation and ensuring smooth, lump-free conveying that maintains reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Productivity

If the piston pushes material horizontally forward, then conveying is achieved, but high frictional forces arise on the inner wall requiring more drive power

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconveying rateVSAvoiddrive power
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention inverts the horizontal pushing motion into an upward carrying motion. The piston moves upward to receive and transport material, eliminating the horizontal frictional forces that require high drive power. This inversion directly reduces energy consumption while maintaining conveying rate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the high-friction horizontal mechanical pushing system with a low-friction upward carrying system. Material falls into the piston under gravity, and the piston carries it upward with minimal friction against the inner wall, significantly reducing drive power requirements while maintaining productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Device complexity

If a conventional piston design is used, then the structure is simple, but the device cannot handle materials with dust content or fine granules without blockages

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepiston structureVSAvoidmaterial compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention inverts the conventional piston design into an upward-moving container that receives material from above. This inversion creates a geometry that naturally handles dust-containing materials and fine granules without blockages, as material falls into the piston rather than being pushed horizontally. The simple inverted structure achieves enhanced material compatibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the geometric parameters of the piston system by inverting the motion direction from horizontal to vertical. This parameter change in the conveying mechanism allows the device to handle a wider range of materials including dust-containing granules and fine materials, while maintaining structural simplicity.

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

The solution enables efficient, low-resistance conveying of powdery and free-flowing solids with reduced drive power requirements, precise control over discharge timing, and continuous, variable delivery without blockages, suitable for various industrial applications.

Implementation Method 1

the quantities advanced by the working piston and dosed specifically for transport out of the device fall into an outlet cone due to gravity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

the wiper bearing has the particular task of guiding the long piston and sealing the inlet area to the outlet area in such a way that no material can get through the bearing. A bypass from one side of the wiper bearing to the other ensures absolute pressure equality in front of and behind the wiper bearing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure equalization: Pascal's Law

Implementation Method 3

The quantities advanced by the working piston and dosed specifically for transport out of the device fall into an outlet cone due to gravity and are pneumatically conveyed by gas quantities directed into the outlet cone through the only outlet of the device into a line leading to the destination

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPneumatic conveying: Gas Lift

Data Source

PatentEP2129986B1Dosing and/or transport of powdery and/or pourable solids
Publication Date: 2014.05.07 SIEMENS VAI METALS TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO
  • EP2129986B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2129986B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2129986B1 patent drawingFigure 3~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a device for dosing and/or transporting of powdery and/or pourable solids, in particular, powders, dusts and/or granules, comprising a housing (15) with at least one funnel-shaped inlet (2), at least one conical outlet (3) and at least one linear drive (18) operating at least one piston (1) with controlled speed and with reciprocation. According to the invention, the dosing and7or transport of powdery and7or pourable solids may be improved, the piston (1) is at least partly designed as a hollow body with an opening (10) facing the inlet (2) and an opening (11) facing the outlet (3).