Inclined Gate Valve Dynamic Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dynamic measurement devices for particulate material flow rates become inaccurate at high flow rates due to changes in the radius of curvature, leading to incorrect force readings, as the radius in the centripetal force formula shifts from the pan's surface to the material's surface.
Innovation Solution
A gate valve with an inclined gate member is used to decrease the discharge opening height, reducing the material's velocity across the pan, which compensates for the smaller radius, and a small gap is maintained to prevent material bridging and crushing, ensuring accurate measurements without recalibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the discharge opening height is decreased to reduce material velocity and compensate for smaller radius at high flow rates, then measurement accuracy is improved, but material bridging and crushing issues worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The gate member is made movable and inclined, allowing the discharge opening height to be dynamically adjusted based on flow rate conditions. At high flow rates, the gate member moves to decrease the discharge opening height, reducing material velocity and compensating for the smaller radius effect, thereby maintaining measurement accuracy without causing material bridging or crushing
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the geometric parameter of the discharge opening height in response to varying flow rates. By adjusting this parameter, the material velocity is controlled to compensate for radius changes, maintaining accurate force readings across different flow conditions while preventing material damage
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the gate member is completely closed to prevent material flow, then material bridging is prevented, but material flow is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of completely closing the gate member, the system uses partial closure to maintain a small gap that prevents material bridging while still allowing controlled flow. The inclined gate member creates just enough clearance to prevent arching but restricts flow sufficiently to maintain measurement accuracy at high flow rates
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 maintains accurate force readings across varying flow rates by adjusting the velocity of the material and preventing material damage, while minimizing bridging and crushing issues, thus ensuring precise weight measurement of particulate materials.
Implementation Method 1
the force of the moving material against a surface is used to calculate the weight and other properties of the material
Implementation Method 2
When material flows over the inwardly curved pan, an inward centripetal force, and a corresponding outward force, is exerted causing the pan to move outwardly
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus are described for accurately measuring the weight of a moving stream of particulate material at different flow volumes. The apparatus includes a dynamic measurement device with a deflectable curved pan for measuring the amount of material flowing along a pathway; a supply source for discharging material along the pathway; and a gate valve having an inclined gate member with a leading edge controlling the volume of material discharged from the supply source, the valve reducing the height of discharge of the material above the dynamic measurement device proportional to the increase in the flow volume of material being discharged. A gate valve is also described that includes a gate member with a fully open position and a fully closed position, the valve aperture being open a width determined by the bridging characteristics of the particulate material being discharged when the gate member is in the fully closed position.