Parallel Chain Conveyor for Battery Case Washing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyors in washing plants for electric car battery cases interfere with washing and rinsing jets, leading to uneven treatment of inner and outer surfaces, requiring reconfiguration that is costly and energy-intensive.
Innovation Solution
An endless conveyor with two parallel chains and orthogonally connected support bars featuring a longitudinal profile with shelves and pegs that allow for homogenous treatment, combined with vertically oriented spray nozzles above and below the conveyor to ensure even exposure of internal and external surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional conveyor is used to transport hollow parts through washing and rinsing stations, then the parts can be continuously transported, but the conveyor interferes with the jets of liquid products causing uneven treatment of inner and outer surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor structure is segmented into parallel chains with support bars that have open C-shaped sections. This segmentation allows the conveyor to be configured in multiple positions (first position where support bars are behind the vertical plane, second position where they are in front), enabling the system to alternate between transport and treatment phases without interference
Solution Approach 2:
The support bars are designed with dynamic positioning capability, allowing them to be placed either behind or in front of the vertical plane containing the spray nozzles. This dynamic configuration ensures that during washing/rinsing operations, the support bars do not obstruct the liquid jets, while during transport they provide stable support for the hollow parts
2Manufacturing precision
If the washing and rinsing stations are reconfigured to expose parts from multiple directions, then homogenous treatment can be achieved, but construction complications and product and energy consumption increase considerably
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of reconfiguring the washing and rinsing stations to accommodate the conveyor, the invention inverts the approach by configuring the conveyor (support bars) to accommodate the existing spray nozzle arrangement. The support bars are positioned behind or in front of the vertical plane containing the nozzles, allowing the spray system to remain simple while achieving homogenous treatment
3Manufacturing precision
If the support bar is designed with a longitudinal profile shaped in open section with shelves and pegs, then homogenous treatment is achieved without excessive construction complications, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The support bar is designed with local quality variations: the longitudinal profile has an open C-shaped section with shelves projecting from it, and pegs extending from the shelves. This local structural differentiation provides stable support for hollow parts at specific locations while maintaining the overall simplicity of the conveyor system and allowing homogenous treatment
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~3a
AI summary
The endless conveyor (1) for transporting hollow workpieces (10) comprises two orthogonally parallel chains (2) connected by bars (3) supporting the hollow workpieces (10), the support bar (3) being formed by a longitudinal profile (4) shaped to an open cross-section from which spaced out shelves (5) project supporting pegs (6) for resting the hollow workpieces (10).