Mortar Pump Hopper with Movable Transfer Pipe for Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machines for pumping mortar, plaster, and concrete are difficult to clean due to the formation of hardened blocks that require mechanical intervention and complex dismantling processes, leading to increased cleaning time and costs.
Innovation Solution
The machine incorporates drive means that allow mechanical members and the transfer pipe to be moved away from the hopper bottom without dismantling, facilitating quick and easy cleaning by aligning the outlet opening with the mortar's movement trajectory, enabling efficient removal of residues without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a secondary output is added to the bottom of the hopper for emptying mortar during cleaning, then the machine can be emptied, but the cleaning process becomes complicated by interaction with the auger and mechanical members that form hardened blocks
Solution Approach 1:
The hopper is divided into two separate outputs: a main output at the front for normal operation and a secondary output at the bottom for cleaning. This segmentation allows the cleaning function to be separated from the conveying function, enabling efficient cleaning without interference from the auger and mechanical members during the emptying process
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary output is pre-positioned at the bottom of the hopper with its opening direction substantially perpendicular to the auger's extension axis. This preliminary positioning ensures that during cleaning, mortar can be emptied directly from the bottom without interacting with the mechanical members, preventing hardened block formation before it becomes a problem
2Ease of operation
If the secondary output is designed to empty mortar from the bottom of the hopper, then cleaning is enabled, but the output opening is often complex and awkward to open
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the secondary output a complex removable component, the invention inverts the approach by making the main output at the front opening accessible and simple to operate. The secondary bottom output serves as a fixed emptying point that works in conjunction with the movable flange, reversing the traditional design where the primary access point would be complex
3Productivity
If manual intervention is used to remove hardened blocks from the secondary output, then the blocks can be removed, but cleaning time increases and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the problem of hardened block formation by positioning the secondary output opening perpendicular to the auger's extension axis. This extraction removes the interaction between the bottom emptying function and the mechanical members, eliminating the root cause of hardened block formation and the need for manual removal
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary output is designed to enable self-service cleaning by allowing mortar to be emptied directly from the bottom of the hopper without requiring operators to manually intervene. The water jets can freely access the bottom surface and flush out residues without obstruction from mechanical members, making the cleaning process autonomous and efficient
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 enables rapid and accessible cleaning, eliminating the need for complete dismantling and reducing cleaning time, as residues can be easily flushed out with water jets, improving operational efficiency and reducing manual labor costs.
Implementation Method 1
Cleaning is then carried out by operators using jets of water, by means of high pressure water jets or the like on the bottom of the hopper
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~3a
Figure 2b~3b
AI summary
A machine (1) is provided for pumping mortar, plaster, concrete or the like comprising: a hopper (2) for conveying the mortar in the fluid state to the bottom (2a) of the hopper (2), mechanical members (3), positioned on the bottom (2a) of the hopper (2), and comprising conveying means (3a) of the mortar, an outlet opening (4) for the mortar in the fluid state positioned near the bottom (2a) of the hopper (2), the conveying means (3a) defining a movement trajectory (3b) of the mortar in the fluid state towards the outlet opening (4), a transfer pipe (6) defining a transfer channel (6a) of the mortar in the fluid state, positioned beyond the outlet opening (4), and during use, in fluidic through communication with said outlet (4), drive means (5) suitable to move, without dismantling, the mechanical members (3) and the transfer pipe (6) in a direction away from the bottom (2a) of the hopper (2) to facilitate cleaning of the hopper (2),in addition the distancing of the transfer pipe (6) is suitable to free the outlet opening (4) so as to allow, for cleaning operations, the output of the mortar from the hopper (2) through the outlet opening (4) towards the outside environment and not into the transfer channel (6a).