Modular Vibratory Floor With Sealing Membrane
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vibrating floor systems for emptying granular and powdery products from silos and ships are cumbersome to install, prone to quality control issues, and suffer from vibration transmission, dust penetration, and product degradation due to cold wall phenomena, requiring extensive on-site assembly and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A modular vibrating floor system comprising pre-assembled independent modules with a peripheral sealing membrane and thermal insulating frames, eliminating the need for anchors and stiffeners, and incorporating deformable support materials to reduce parasitic vibratory modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If vibrating sheets are joined end to end to form spans installed in situ, then the vibrating floor can be installed on slopes, but the installation requires long periods of immobilization and strenuous on-site work
Solution Approach 1:
The vibrating floor is divided into modular spans of standardized lengths (e.g., 2-4 meters) that can be pre-assembled and tested in a factory setting. Each module contains complete functional units including vibrating sheets, springs, and sealing membranes, allowing rapid on-site installation without extensive on-site assembly work
Solution Approach 2:
All assembly operations including joining vibrating sheets, attaching springs, and installing sealing membranes are performed in advance during factory pre-assembly. Quality control measures are implemented during manufacturing rather than during on-site installation, eliminating the need for strenuous on-site work and reducing installation time to simple module placement
2Reliability
If anchors are placed in the upper part of spans to prevent slipping, then the spans are secured to the slope, but vibrations are transmitted to the structure causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
A sealing membrane made of elastomeric or plastic material is introduced as an intermediary between the vibrating sheet and the support slope. This flexible membrane provides the necessary friction to prevent slipping while absorbing and isolating vibrations, preventing transmission to the concrete structure. The membrane acts as a damping layer that maintains span stability without the harmful effects of rigid anchors
3Ease of manufacture
If vibrating sheets are placed in direct contact with the foundation, then installation is simplified, but a cold wall phenomenon occurs causing humidity and product degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing membrane serves a dual function as both a securing mechanism and a thermal insulation layer. Positioned between the vibrating sheet and the concrete foundation, it prevents direct thermal contact that would create cold wall effects, thereby eliminating humidity condensation and product degradation while maintaining installation simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing membrane is constructed from composite elastomeric or plastic materials that combine multiple properties: friction resistance for anti-slip functionality, flexibility for vibration absorption, and thermal insulation characteristics to prevent cold wall phenomena. This multi-functional material eliminates the need for separate insulation components
4Strength
If stiffeners are fixed under the sheet in reservations during slope construction, then the sheets are stiffened transversely, but the reservations complicate concreting implementation
Solution Approach 1:
Stiffening function is segmented into self-contained modular elements integrated within each pre-assembled span. Standardized stiffener configurations are incorporated during factory assembly, eliminating the need for custom reservations in the concrete slope and simplifying on-site installation to simple module placement
5Device complexity
If flat sheets are used for the vibrating floor, then the structure is simple, but parasitic transverse vibratory modes appear that hinder product flow
Solution Approach 1:
The vibrating sheet is transformed from a flat configuration to a corrugated profile with transverse waves or ridges. This curved geometry eliminates parasitic transverse vibratory modes by directing vibrations along the longitudinal axis, improving product flow efficiency while maintaining structural simplicity through standardized corrugation patterns
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 solution allows for efficient, vibration-free operation with reduced assembly time, improved sealing, and product preservation, while eliminating the need for on-site construction and maintenance, enhancing the overall efficiency and quality of the emptying process.
Implementation Method 1
The sealing of the system is ensured by a membrane, one end of which is fixed to the periphery of each span
Implementation Method 2
a support material which may be a thermal insulator is incorporated into the frames, thus reducing the phenomenon of a cold wall between the sheet and the layer of product in contact with them
Implementation Method 3
The vibrating floor technique used for emptying residual embankments in silos and ships consists of vibrating sheets supported on springs
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
Figure 7~11
AI summary
The invention relates to a vibratory floor consisting of independent vibratory modules that can be pre-fabricated and are strictly controlled before being put into place in structures for storage or transport of bulk products. Each vibratory module consists of a frame (14) in which a support material (12) is arranged, on which a metal sheet (9) is mounted, said metal sheet being attached to a vibratory element (10) and a stiffener (19) and held in place only by a peripheral sealing membrane (11), optionally supported by compression springs (13). The filling material can comprise ribs (30) for deforming the metal sheet in the form of transversal waves (31) under the effect of the weight of the stored product. The vibratory modules constructed in this way are dust-tight, do no transmit vibrations to the surrounding structure, and effectively drain any lumpy or powdery product from silos, ships, railroad cars, or other containers.