Membrane Lifting Arrangement for Damage-Free Filter Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Membranes in filtration systems for food processing are prone to damage during handling and replacement due to their handling length and the manual process of insertion into housings, which reduces their operational lifetime.
Innovation Solution
A filtration system with a lifting arrangement featuring a gripper unit and support device that securely handles and inserts membranes into housings, reducing the risk of damage by using a beam-mounted gripper unit with a hoist and a locking mechanism, and a support device for safe membrane transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If membranes are produced in lengths that can be handled by operators, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to damages during handling
Solution Approach 1:
A lifting arrangement with a gripper unit acts as an intermediary between the operator and the membrane. The gripper unit securely holds the membrane during insertion and extraction operations, eliminating direct manual contact that causes damage. The lifting arrangement includes a beam, gripper unit with locking mechanism, and support device that work together to handle the membrane without operator contact, thus maintaining membrane integrity while preserving ease of operation.
2Reliability
If membranes are produced in shorter lengths for safe handling, then reliability is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to multiple replacement operations
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting arrangement serves as a mediator that enables safe handling of longer membrane lengths. By providing secure gripping and lifting capabilities, the system allows operators to handle full-length membranes without damage, thereby maintaining reliability while improving productivity through reduced number of replacement operations.
3Device complexity
If manual insertion of membranes is used, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to operator-induced damages
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting arrangement with gripper unit acts as an intermediary device that bridges the gap between simple manual operation and automated handling. It adds minimal complexity while significantly improving reliability by eliminating direct manual contact with the membrane during critical insertion and extraction operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The gripper unit is designed to automatically lock onto the membrane and secure it during handling operations. The locking mechanism engages automatically when the gripper approaches the membrane, reducing the need for complex manual positioning and control while ensuring reliable gripping and protection of the membrane.
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 system enhances membrane handling safety and efficiency by minimizing damage during replacement, allowing for secure and efficient membrane insertion and extraction without manual alignment, thus extending the operational lifetime of the membranes.
Implementation Method 1
when the second arm is lowered the locking pin is introduced into the locking device and guided downwards via the slanted top surface of the tilt element and the slanted top surface of the guiding element
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A filtration system (100) comprising a membrane arrangement (102) comprising membrane housings (104) extending in a first direction (A) and having openings (106) that are located in a common plane (109) and face a common area (108), and membranes (110) arranged inside the membrane housings (104) and configured to be replaced via the openings (106), and a lifting arrangement (112) comprising a support frame (114) having a beam (116) that extends along the common plane (109) and is provided vertically above the common area (108), and a gripper unit (118) slidably attached to the beam (116) and arranged to grip the membranes (110) and transport the membranes (106) in a direction (B) along the common plane (109).