Low Profile Vacuum Receiver for Overhead Space Constraints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional receivers in the plastics industry require a significant height for installation, which can interfere with overhead restrictions and pose safety issues due to excessive height, and they often require frequent filter cleaning and additional filtration at the vacuum pump to capture dust and fines.
Innovation Solution
A low profile receiver design that includes a horizontally elongated body with a cloth filter to catch dust and fines, a blaster for effective filter cleaning, and a dump flap that extends the length of the receiver, allowing for efficient emptying and reducing the need for additional filtration at the vacuum pump.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If conventional receiver design is used, then the receiver can effectively pull granular plastic resin material into the receiver, but the receiver requires significant height for installation which interferes with overhead restrictions and poses safety issues
Solution Approach 1:
The receiver is redesigned from a vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation, changing the primary dimension of material flow from vertical to horizontal. This dimensional change allows the receiver to achieve the same functional capacity with significantly reduced height, eliminating overhead interference while maintaining operational effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiver employs a composite structure combining a horizontal elongated body with integrated filtration systems and dump mechanisms. This composite design integrates multiple functions (receiving, filtering, and dumping) into a single horizontal unit, achieving space efficiency without sacrificing operational capability.
2Reliability
If conventional filter design is used, then the receiver can process granular plastic resin material, but frequent filter cleaning is required and additional filtration at the vacuum pump is needed to capture dust and fines
Solution Approach 1:
The filtration system is merged directly into the receiver body, with the cloth filter integrated as an internal component rather than a separate external unit. This integration allows the receiver to capture dust and fines internally, eliminating the need for additional filtration at the vacuum pump and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining effective filtration.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiver design enables self-contained filtration where the horizontal configuration and integrated cloth filter work together to separate dust and fines from the granular material stream before it reaches the vacuum pump. This self-service filtration approach reduces dependency on external filtration systems and minimizes maintenance requirements.
3Volume of stationary object
If conventional receiver configuration is used, then the receiver can store granular plastic resin material, but the receiver requires additional space and height that may not be available in the installation environment
Solution Approach 1:
The receiver transitions from a vertical storage configuration to a horizontal storage configuration, redistributing the storage volume along the horizontal axis rather than vertically. This allows the receiver to maintain adequate storage capacity while minimizing height requirements, making it suitable for installations with overhead space constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiver employs a horizontally elongated streamlined body with curved surfaces that optimize space utilization. The curved horizontal configuration allows for efficient material flow and storage while minimizing the vertical footprint, achieving optimal volume-to-height ratio.
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 low profile receiver design minimizes installation height, reduces the need for frequent filter cleaning, and ensures efficient emptying of granular resin material, while eliminating the requirement for additional filtration at the vacuum pump by capturing dust and fines within the receiver.
Implementation Method 1
the receiver requires some sort of a collection bin or surge hopper below the receiver to receive the granular plastic resin material as it is fed to the process machine
Implementation Method 2
A horizontal vacuum outlet conduit connects to the elongated body
Implementation Method 3
A dust and material fines filter is positioned between the inlet and outlet conduits to collect dust and material fines
Implementation Method 4
a blaster for directing an air blast at the filter to clean the filter of retained dust and material fines
Implementation Method 5
a dump flap extending a longitudinal length of a lower extremity of the housing portion, the dump flap being movable between an open position at which granular plastic material in the housing can flow freely downwardly out of the housing
Data Source
AI summary
A receiver having a horizontally elongated chamber within a housing, the chamber having a convex triangular cross-section and a dump flap defining a bottom vertex of the triangular cross-section, with a horizontal air/vacuum resin material inlet connecting to the chamber, and a horizontal air/vacuum outlet leading from and connected to the chamber.