Pick Assembly Spinal Region Aggregate Flow Redirection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pick assemblies for road milling and mining machines face inefficiencies due to high resistance and energy consumption caused by surface contact with aggregate during formation degradation, leading to increased friction and energy absorption.
Innovation Solution
A pick assembly design featuring a streamlined body with recesses and a spinal region that redirects aggregate flow, reducing surface contact and friction, and utilizing a carbide section with a superhard tip for efficient degradation, while minimizing energy consumption through a curved geometry and braze interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the pick assembly uses a traditional design with larger surface area contact, then structural support and durability are improved, but resistance and energy consumption increase due to friction with aggregate
Solution Approach 1:
The pick assembly incorporates a streamlined body with curved surfaces that guide aggregate flow smoothly around the structure. The curved geometry reduces turbulence and friction contact between the aggregate and the pick body, thereby lowering energy consumption while maintaining structural integrity through optimized curvature radii.
Solution Approach 2:
The pick assembly features a spinal region with varying cross-sectional geometry - wider at the base for structural support and gradually narrowing toward the tip. This local variation in geometry provides necessary strength where needed while minimizing surface area contact with aggregate in regions where support is less critical, thus reducing friction and energy consumption.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the pick assembly is designed with a streamlined body to reduce drag, then energy consumption decreases, but structural support for the tip may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The streamlined body employs carefully calculated curvature radii that progressively change along the length of the pick. The curvature is optimized to maintain structural strength at critical regions (base and spinal region) while minimizing drag in regions where aggregate flow contact occurs, achieving both support and energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The pick assembly utilizes a composite structure combining materials with different properties - the spinal region and body use materials optimized for strength and structural support, while the tip uses superhard material for degradation. This composite approach allows the body to be streamlined for low drag while the spinal region maintains necessary support strength.
3Productivity
If the pick assembly uses superhard material for the tip to enhance degradation capability, then productivity improves, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pick assembly is divided into distinct segments with different material properties: the tip uses superhard material for degradation, the spinal region uses structurally optimized material for support, and the body uses streamlined geometry for flow management. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured and optimized independently, reducing overall manufacturing complexity despite the use of advanced materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The pick assembly employs a composite structure where superhard material is applied only to the tip region where degradation is needed, while the body and spinal region use different materials optimized for their specific functions. This selective material application reduces manufacturing complexity and cost compared to making the entire assembly from superhard material, while still achieving high productivity at the working tip.
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 pick assembly effectively reduces drag and energy consumption by directing aggregate flow around the body, maintaining tip support and longevity, and conserving material through efficient design and manufacturing processes.
Implementation Method 1
a pick assembly is generally attached to drums, drill bits, wheels, or chains, which are configured to drive the pick assemblies into the formation with an impacting force that degrades the formation's surface
Implementation Method 2
The working end comprises a tip that is harder than the body and configured to degrade a formation
Implementation Method 3
surface contact that may occur between the assembly's body and the formation being degraded. The recess may comprise a steeper incline proximate the tip and a gradual incline proximate the bulge. The reduced contact between the pick assembly and loose aggregate may decrease friction, which will reduce the overall energy consumption
Implementation Method 4
The streamlined side is configured to reduce resistance resulting from a flow of aggregate as the tip degrades the formation. The streamlined side may be configured to reduce the pick assembly's drag through the degraded aggregate
Implementation Method 5
At least one recess is formed between the bulge and the spine and is configured to direct the flow of aggregate around the pick assembly's body
Implementation Method 6
The carbide substrate is brazed at a planar interface to the carbide section
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect of the present invention, a pick assembly is configured to reduce aggregate drag that is formed during a degradation process. The pick assembly is configured to redirect the flow of the aggregate to conserve energy and maintain efficiency during the degradation process.