Pipe Diverter Shaft Layout for Faster Concrete Pump Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing high-solids conveying devices face difficulties in assembling and disassembling the pipe diverter due to its heavy and robust construction, requiring cumbersome removal of the shaft from a single-piece front bearing, which complicates maintenance and increases operational complexity.
Innovation Solution
A viscous material conveying device with a shaft supported by at least two axially spaced bearing points, allowing separation from the pipe diverter within the collection container, and a frame structure front wall design that simplifies assembly and disassembly by distributing load effectively across multiple bearing points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single-piece front bearing with integrated shaft is used, then the structure is robust and reliable, but the assembly and disassembly process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The front bearing is divided into multiple modular components: a bearing housing, a separate shaft, and bearing inserts. This segmentation allows the shaft to be independently removed from the bearing housing without disassembling the entire bearing structure, significantly reducing maintenance time while maintaining structural integrity during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft is extracted as a separate removable component from the front bearing assembly. This extraction enables the shaft to be quickly removed and replaced without affecting the bearing housing or other critical components, solving the time-loss problem while preserving the robustness of the overall structure.
2Strength
If a heavy robust construction is used for the pipe diverter, then the structural strength is sufficient, but the weight increases making assembly and disassembly difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe diverter assembly is segmented into the diverter body, shaft, and bearing components. This segmentation allows the heavy diverter body to remain stationary and structurally sound while only the lighter shaft and bearing components are removed during maintenance, effectively reducing the weight that needs to be handled.
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft and bearing components are extracted from the pipe diverter assembly, separating the heavy stationary diverter body from the lighter movable components. This extraction maintains the structural strength of the diverter body while reducing the overall weight that requires manual handling during assembly and disassembly operations.
3Ease of manufacture
If the shaft interface with pivot lever is located outside the collection tank, then the assembly is straightforward, but the shaft cannot be extracted without removing the rear bearing
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft connection interface is extracted and repositioned inside the collection tank housing, allowing the shaft to be independently removed from the bearing without requiring access from outside the tank or removal of the rear bearing. This extraction solves the operational difficulty while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft extraction path is changed from an external horizontal removal (requiring rear bearing removal) to an internal vertical or axial removal through the bearing housing. This dimensional change in the extraction path allows shaft removal without affecting the rear bearing or other external components.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a conveying device for thick materials, particularly for conveying concrete, comprising two conveying cylinders by means of which thick material can be conveyed from a collection container into a conveying line. The conveying cylinders can be driven such that one of the cylinders performs a pumping stroke while the other simultaneously performs a suction stroke. A pipe diverter, connected to the conveying line, is pivotally mounted on the collection container and can be driven by a shaft rotatably mounted in a front bearing such that it alternately connects the conveying line to the conveying cylinder performing the pumping stroke. According to the invention, the shaft is mounted in the front bearing via two bearing points and is separable from the pipe diverter. The invention further relates to a method for disassembling the pipe diverter of such a conveying device for thick materials.