Interlocking Grate Bar Structure for Thermal Expansion and Wear Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing grate bars in sintering or pelletizing machines suffer from increased wear due to misalignments and thermal expansion, leading to irregular gaps and reduced durability, which affects the efficiency and longevity of the machine components.
Innovation Solution
The grate bar design features interlocking means with triangular cross-sections and spacers to maintain parallel alignment and consistent gaps between adjacent bars, preventing misalignment and wear, while allowing gas flow and supporting the bars on the pallet car.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If grate bars are loosely arranged to allow self-cleaning movement, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to misalignment and loss of parallel positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces spacers as intermediary elements between adjacent grate bars. These spacers maintain a predetermined distance and parallel positioning between grate bars, preventing direct contact and misalignment while still allowing the loose arrangement necessary for self-cleaning movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the connection between grate bars by introducing expandable elements that can change volume. These elements allow thermal expansion and contraction of the grate bars while maintaining stable positioning and parallel alignment, resolving the contradiction between movement freedom and positioning precision.
2Adaptability or versatility
If expansion space is provided for thermal expansion, then adaptability is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to loss of predetermined gap between grate bars
Solution Approach 1:
The patent explicitly incorporates thermal expansion principles by providing expansion space between grate bars and using expandable connection elements. These elements allow the grate bars to expand and contract with temperature changes while maintaining consistent gaps and parallel positioning through the constraining action of the spacers and connection means.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacers act as intermediaries that maintain the predetermined gap between grate bars during thermal expansion. They ensure that even when bars expand, the gap consistency is preserved, resolving the contradiction between adaptability to thermal changes and manufacturing precision.
3Manufacturing precision
If grate bars are securely connected to prevent movement, then manufacturing precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to reduced self-cleaning capability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamic connection system where grate bars are securely connected for alignment stability but allow controlled movement for self-cleaning. The connection means provide stable positioning while the spacers and expansion elements enable the necessary movement freedom, resolving the contradiction between security and mobility.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacers serve as intermediaries that maintain precise alignment between grate bars while allowing them to move independently for self-cleaning. They decouple the alignment function from the movement function, enabling both precision and operational ease simultaneously.
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 enhances the durability and alignment of grate bars, reducing wear and maintaining efficient gas flow, thereby extending the life of the grate bars and minimizing material damage to downstream equipment.
Implementation Method 1
The spacers are arranged such that two spacers of neighbouring grate bars come into contact with each other, thereby defining the distance between the crossbeams
Implementation Method 2
The end sections of the crossbeam comprise first interlocking means, the latter being shaped and arranged such that the first interlocking means cooperate with first interlocking means of grate bars of a neighbouring row of grate bars; thereby limiting relative translations of two neighbouring grate bars in at least a vertical and a horizontal orientation
Implementation Method 3
Due to the high thermal variations inside the sintering or pelletizing machine, the connection between the grate bars and the pallet car generally comprises an expansion space, in all three directions, allowing thermal expansion of the grate bars
Implementation Method 4
The legs are attached to the crossbeam at each end section, and have a hook shape with a vertical branch essentially perpendicular to the lower surface, and a horizontal branch essentially parallel to the lower surface and extending outwardly. In use, the grate bar is mounted on the pallet car, with a frame element of the pallet car interposed between the lower surface at each end section and the horizontal branch of the leg of the grate bar, thereby limiting the translation of the grate bar in a vertical direction
Data Source
AI summary
A grate bar for mounting in arrays of adjacent grate bars in a pallet car of a sintering or pelletizing machine includes an elongate crossbeam extending in a longitudinal direction of a horizontal plane, with a middle section between two opposite end sections. The crossbeam has a generally rectangular cross-section with an upper surface for receiving bulk material thereon, an opposite lower surface, and peripheral surfaces for facing adjacent grate bars. The crossbeam has two legs to vertically secure the grate bar to the pallet car. The end sections of the crossbeam include first interlocking components shaped and arranged such that they cooperate with first interlocking components of grate bars of a neighbouring row of grate bars; thereby limiting relative translations of two neighbouring grate bars in at least a vertical and a horizontal orientation. The first interlocking means components have a triangular cross-section in a horizontal plane.