Notched Compactor Cleaner Finger Predictable Failure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaner fingers for compactor machines fail when encountering high load forces from large debris, such as refrigerators and barbed wire, leading to costly and timely repairs due to damage to the cleaner finger assembly and compactor machine components.
Innovation Solution
A compactor wheel cleaning assembly with a rigid support arm and notched cleaner finger stacks that include a tip for scraping debris and mounting apertures, where the cleaner fingers are designed to fail predictably at a notch when exceeding their load force capacity, minimizing damage to the machine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If thick rectangular cleaner fingers are used to withstand high load forces from large debris, then the cleaner fingers can handle larger debris, but the damage to the compactor machine frame and powertrain components becomes severe when failure occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaner finger is segmented by introducing notches that create predetermined failure zones. These notches divide the cleaner finger into sections with controlled weakness points, allowing the finger to break in a predictable manner at the notch rather than causing catastrophic failure elsewhere in the machine.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaner finger is designed as a disposable component with predetermined failure points. When subjected to excessive load, the cleaner finger breaks at the notch and is replaced rather than repaired, preventing damage to more expensive machine components while being economically replaceable.
2Reliability
If cleaner fingers are designed to withstand typical load forces, then they perform well for normal debris, but they fail catastrophically when encountering large debris exceeding their load capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The notch is pre-formed in the cleaner finger during manufacturing, creating a predetermined failure point before the cleaner finger is installed. This preliminary action ensures that when excessive load is applied, the failure occurs at the predetermined location rather than randomly elsewhere in the structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The potential harm of cleaner finger failure is converted into a benefit by designing the failure to occur predictably at the notch. This controlled failure mode prevents catastrophic damage to the machine, turning what would be a harmful event into a manageable, replaceable component failure.
3Device complexity
If traditional cleaner fingers are used, then the design is simple, but repair or replacement is costly and time-consuming when failure occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaner finger is segmented with notches that allow for easy identification of wear patterns and failure points. This segmentation enables quick assessment of whether the cleaner finger needs replacement and facilitates rapid installation of new components without complex diagnostic procedures.
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 notched cleaner finger design ensures predictable failure at the notch, reducing damage to the machine and maintenance costs by allowing the cleaner fingers to break or bend before causing further damage, thus maintaining operational efficiency and reducing repair expenses.
Implementation Method 1
the cleaner fingers scrape residual material from between the rows of compactor teeth
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaner finger assembly for cleaning compactor teeth on a compactor wheel of a compactor machine includes at least one cleaner finger assembly. The cleaner finger assembly includes a cleaner finger stack and a plurality of fasteners for mounting the cleaner finger stack. The cleaner finger stack includes at least one cleaner finger with a longitudinal axis, a tip for engaging a compactor wheel surface, and a plurality of mounting apertures. The cleaner finger also includes a notch extending from an edge of the cleaner finger toward the longitudinal axis. The cleaner finger failing at the location of the notch when the cleaner finger tip is engaged by debris with a tension force greater than a tip anchor tension capacity of the finger tip anchoring mechanism.