Mass Flow Sensor With Hollow-Cylindrical Guide Section
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing measuring devices for determining mass flow of crushed bulk material in self-propelled harvesting machines face accuracy issues due to abrasive effects on sealing materials, leading to decreased measurement precision.
Innovation Solution
A sealless design featuring a hollow-cylindrical material guide section that encloses the bulk material flow in the circumferential direction, allowing for vertical deflection and force measurement without longitudinal gaps, eliminating the need for sealing and reducing friction-related errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If seals made of elastic foam material are used to close gaps between the sensor surface and the opening, then the measurement variable pickup can be integrated into the material discharge device, but the seals become subject to abrasive effects from bulk material flowing at high speed, causing measurement accuracy to decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful sealing elements are extracted and removed from the system. The patent designs the material discharge device with an interrupted material guiding surface that directly receives the sensor surface without requiring seals or gaskets to close gaps, thereby eliminating the source of measurement error while maintaining integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The material guiding surface is segmented or interrupted to create a receiving area for the sensor surface. This segmentation allows the sensor to be integrated into the material discharge device while avoiding the need for continuous sealing, as the interruption itself provides the interface for sensor mounting.
2Ease of operation
If seals are used to prevent bulk material from entering gaps, then the sensor surface can be integrated into the material discharge device, but the seals are affected by temperature influences and friction, leading to decreased measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful sealing elements are extracted and removed from the system. The patent designs the material discharge device with an interrupted material guiding surface that directly receives the sensor surface without requiring seals or gaskets to close gaps, thereby eliminating the source of measurement error while maintaining integration.
3Measurement precision
If a hollow-cylindrical material guide section is used to completely enclose the bulk material flow, then longitudinal gaps are avoided and sealing is eliminated, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow-cylindrical material guide section serves multiple functions simultaneously: it guides the bulk material flow, provides structural support for the sensor, eliminates the need for separate sealing elements, and prevents material from entering gaps. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity despite the specialized cylindrical design.
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 design enhances measurement accuracy by preventing bulk material from lodging in gaps and reduces the influence of temperature changes and friction on measurement results, ensuring precise mass flow determination.
Implementation Method 1
The proportion of the force component of the bulk material flow acting in the vertical direction on the material guidance section is determined by the load cell by detecting the deflection of the material guidance section
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a measuring device for determining a mass flow consisting of, in particular, crushed bulk material, comprising a conveying device (9) and a material discharge device (10) downstream of the conveying device (9), to which a material flow (7) consisting of bulk material, accelerated by the conveying device (9), wherein the material discharge device (10) has a conveying shaft (11) and at least one sectionally curved, channel-shaped shaft (12) adjoining the conveying shaft (11) with a material guide surface (12) for guiding the material flow (7), as well as a force measuring cell (20), wherein the material guide surface (12) is sectionally interrupted to accommodate a sensor of the force measuring cell (20), wherein the sensor is a hollow cylindrical extending sectionally in the flow direction of the material discharge device (10),a guide surface (23) having a deflecting guide section (22) is formed which is arranged on the force measuring cell (20) so as to be freely movable at least in the vertical direction relative to the channel-shaped shaft (12) of the material discharge device (10).