Pin Wheel Gear Ring Travel Drive for Malt Furnaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing travel drives for germinating and curing malt in malt factory systems are inefficient and unsafe due to high wear areas and complex assembly processes, particularly in longitudinally traversable and rotatable equipment like germinating furnaces.
Innovation Solution
A pin wheel/gear ring arrangement with minimal wear areas, where the pin wheel is motor-driven and can rotate, and the gear ring is stationary, allowing for easy replacement and enhanced safety with simplified assembly and disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional travel drive with multiple wheels and rails is used, then the equipment can traverse longitudinally, but the wear areas increase and assembly becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The travel drive is segmented into a stationary gear ring mounted on the console and a separate pin wheel on the traversable device. This segmentation allows the pin wheel to be easily replaced when worn, while the gear ring remains fixed and durable, reducing overall assembly complexity and improving maintenance efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of mounting multiple wheels on the traversable device that run along fixed rails, the invention inverts the arrangement by mounting a stationary gear ring on the console and a pin wheel on the traversable device. This inversion simplifies the structure by eliminating the need for multiple rails and wheels, reducing assembly complexity while maintaining traversal functionality.
2Reliability
If a conventional travel drive with multiple wheels and rails is used, then the equipment can traverse longitudinally, but the number of wear areas increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wear-prone pin wheel is segmented as a separate, replaceable component from the stationary gear ring. This allows only the pin wheel to be replaced when worn, rather than replacing entire rail-wheel assemblies, thereby reducing material loss and maintenance complexity while improving operational safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The pin wheel is extracted as a separate, easily replaceable component from the overall travel drive system. This extraction allows the wear area to be isolated and replaced independently, reducing the number of wear areas that need to be monitored and maintained, thereby improving reliability with minimal material loss.
3Ease of repair
If the pin wheel is designed for easy replacement, then maintenance is simplified, but the drive structure must be simpler
Solution Approach 1:
The pin wheel is segmented as an independent, modular component that can be easily removed and replaced without affecting the stationary gear ring or the traversable device structure. This segmentation achieves easy replacement while maintaining a simple overall drive structure, as no complex disassembly is required.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention inverts the conventional approach by making the pin wheel on the traversable device the stationary engagement element with the gear ring, rather than having the gear ring on the traversable device. This inversion simplifies the drive structure by eliminating the need for complex mounting mechanisms, while the pin wheel remains easily replaceable.
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 solution provides a reliable and safe travel drive system that enhances operational safety and simplifies assembly/disassembly, enabling efficient longitudinal traversal and rotation of equipment with reduced maintenance costs.
Implementation Method 1
a pin wheel/gear ring arrangement containing only a small number of areas subject to wear (pins), which can also be easily replaced. The running wheel with the gear ring is designed as a stationary drive unit on a console. A pin wheel runs on the gear ring like a pinion.
Data Source
AI summary
A travel drive for a traversable or rotatable device. The drive includes at least one pin wheel engaging teeth of a gear ring. This abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.