Metal Waste Shredder Monitoring for Predictive Maintenance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current metal waste shredding plants face high maintenance costs and inefficiencies due to reactive and preventive maintenance methods, which are costly and resource-intensive, lacking predictive capabilities to optimize maintenance schedules.

Innovation Solution

A plant with integrated sensor means for monitoring working parameters like energy absorption, temperature, and vibration, coupled with a data processing unit using artificial intelligence and neural networks to predict maintenance needs, allowing for proactive planning during downtime.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If reactive maintenance is performed, then intervention costs are reduced, but non-production costs and repair costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance costVSAvoidnon-production time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by continuously monitoring working parameters and predicting component failures before they occur. The artificial intelligence model analyzes historical and real-time data to forecast maintenance needs, allowing the plant to schedule repairs during planned downtime rather than experiencing unplanned stoppages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously collecting data from sensors on working parameters, feeding this information to the artificial intelligence model, and using the predictions to adjust maintenance schedules. This closed-loop system enables dynamic optimization of maintenance timing based on actual component condition trends.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If preventive maintenance is performed, then failure probability is reduced, but maintenance costs and resource consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefailure probabilityVSAvoidmaintenance resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from static preventive maintenance schedules to dynamic condition-based maintenance. The artificial intelligence model continuously adapts maintenance predictions based on real-time working parameter variations, allowing the system to optimize maintenance timing according to actual component stress and wear conditions rather than fixed intervals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system monitors changes in working parameters (temperature, vibration, pressure, etc.) to determine component health status. By detecting parameter trends that indicate degradation, the system can predict failures and schedule maintenance only when necessary, rather than performing routine maintenance regardless of actual component condition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If no predictive system is implemented, then device complexity is low, but maintenance planning efficiency is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance planning efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The artificial intelligence model acts as an intermediary between raw sensor data and maintenance decision-making. It processes complex multi-parameter data streams, identifies patterns indicating future failures, and translates this information into actionable maintenance recommendations, bridging the gap between operational data and maintenance planning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces manual maintenance planning with an automated artificial intelligence-based predictive system. Instead of relying on operator experience and manual analysis of equipment condition, the system uses machine learning models to automatically analyze sensor data, predict failures, and generate maintenance schedules, significantly improving planning efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP4028173B1A plant for shredding metal waste and a method for the use thereof
Publication Date: 2023.11.08 ZATO SRL
  • EP4028173B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

A plant for shredding metal waste, comprising at least one working chamber, means for shredding metal waste and motor means operatively connected to the shredding means. The plant further comprising sensor means operatively associated with the motor means and/or shredding means for monitoring at predetermined time intervals at least one working parameter connected to the wear thereof, and at least one data processing unit operatively connected to the sensor means. The data processing unit including: data storage means for storing for a predetermined period of time the values of said at least one working parameter detected by said sensor means and an an artificial intelligence software program so as to allow the plant manager to plan the maintenance of the motor means and/or shredding means.