Nested Screen Drums for Compact Material Drying and Classification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing apparatus for drying and classification of materials are excessively long, occupying large floor areas due to the combination of a drier and a screen device, which complicates integration and layout adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A compact multilayer screen device with nested screen drums attached to the drying drum, allowing for a shorter apparatus structure and eliminating the need for a separate rotating mechanism or support, with a discharge chamber for separating dried material and exhaust gas, and incorporating a crusher for unscreened material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single screen drum with sequential screen sections is used, then material classification into different fractions is achieved, but the apparatus becomes very long and occupies large floor area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by placing multiple screen drums (first, second, and third screen drums with different screen sizes) concentrically within each other, sharing a common rotational axis. This nested configuration allows sequential screening operations to occur in a compact radial arrangement rather than a linear extension, dramatically reducing the overall apparatus length while maintaining the capability to classify material into multiple size fractions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a one-dimensional linear arrangement of screen sections to a three-dimensional concentric configuration. By utilizing the radial dimension and stacking screen drums at different radii around a common axis, the patent achieves multi-stage screening in a compact footprint, effectively converting linear space requirements into radial and axial space utilization.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a separate rotating apparatus is added for the screen device, then independent screen rotation is achieved, but the device complexity and structural length increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the rotational drive systems by coupling all screen drums (first, second, and third screen drums) to rotate together with the drying drum about a common axis. This combined rotation eliminates the need for separate motors, bearings, and drive mechanisms for each screen drum, thereby reducing device complexity and structural length while still achieving effective material classification through the nested screen configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The drying drum serves multiple functions: it performs the primary drying operation and simultaneously acts as the rotational support for the nested screen drums. This multi-functionality allows the single rotating apparatus to handle both drying and screening operations, eliminating the need for separate rotating mechanisms and reducing overall system complexity.
3Length of stationary object
If nested screen drums are attached to the drying drum, then apparatus length is reduced, but the support and bearing requirements become more demanding
Solution Approach 1:
The drying drum's support and bearing structure is designed to serve dual purposes: supporting the drying drum itself and simultaneously supporting the nested screen drums that rotate with it. This multi-functional support system leverages the existing structural capacity of the drying drum's bearings and supports to handle the combined loads, thereby achieving compact design without requiring entirely separate support structures for the screen device.
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus for drying and classification of a material, the apparatus including a drier (1) having a rotatable drying drum (2) that is substantially horizontal or slightly inclined relative to the horizontal direction for drying a moist material being fed through a first end (3) of the drier, and a screen device (4) provided at a second end (5) of the drier to receive dried material passed through the drying drum for classification of the material. The screen device (4) is a multilayer screen including nested screen drums (6, 7, 8, 17) attached to the drying drum (2) to rotate with the drying drum about a common rotating axis (x-x).