Pivoting Closure Element for Mixing Device Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mixing devices with pivoting closure covers face manufacturing complexity, cleaning difficulties, and material leakage due to the need for a large discharge cross-section and clearance for pivotal movement, which complicates the sealing and transfer of mixing materials.
Innovation Solution
The closure element, emptying opening, and pivot axis are configured such that the closure element rotates within a circle defined by the pivot axis, allowing contact between edge surfaces without gaps, preventing material leakage and simplifying the pivotal movement, with curved edge surfaces resembling a spherical segment for efficient sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the closure cover is designed to pivot laterally out of the emptying opening, then the sealing and cleaning are improved, but the closure cover requires complex rotational movement capability which increases device complexity and manufacturing cost
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the closure cover pivot laterally out of the emptying opening as in conventional designs, the invention inverts the approach by having the closure cover pivot vertically within the emptying opening. The closure cover is designed to pivot about a pivot axis that extends horizontally through the closure cover, allowing it to rotate between a closed position (flush with container bottom) and an open position (vertical), eliminating the need for complex lateral extraction mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs curved surfaces by defining a spherical segment as the closure cover, with the pivot axis passing through the sphere center. The emptying opening is configured with a spherical segment geometry that receives the closure cover, allowing smooth rotational movement. The contact surfaces between the closure cover and emptying opening are designed as curved surfaces that maintain sealing during pivoting motion.
2Reliability
If the closure cover is moved linearly downward to open the emptying opening, then the sealing is improved, but the mixing material flows over all surfaces of the closure cover and fouls the drive mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the conventional linear downward movement by implementing vertical pivoting motion within the emptying opening. The closure cover rotates about a horizontal pivot axis, moving from a closed position flush with the container bottom to an open position where it stands vertically. This pivoting motion prevents mixing material from flowing over the top surfaces of the closure cover and fouling the drive mechanism, as the closure cover remains contained within the emptying opening geometry throughout its motion.
3Ease of operation
If the closure cover has clearance within the emptying opening to permit pivotal movement, then the pivoting operation is facilitated, but mixing material constituents can escape from the container even when the emptying opening is closed
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses spherical segment geometry for both the closure cover and the emptying opening, with the pivot axis passing through the sphere center. This curved surface design allows the closure cover to pivot smoothly within the emptying opening while maintaining continuous contact between their contact surfaces. The spherical geometry ensures that the closure cover remains properly positioned and sealed during pivoting motion, preventing material leakage while facilitating easy operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces complex mechanical sealing systems with a geometric sealing approach based on spherical segment geometry. The contact surfaces between the closure cover and emptying opening are designed as curved surfaces that naturally maintain sealing through their geometric relationship during pivoting motion, eliminating the need for additional mechanical seals or complex clearance control mechanisms.
4Ease of operation
If the closure cover is designed with complex rotational movement capability, then the pivoting operation is enabled, but the manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs spherical segment geometry for the closure cover and emptying opening, which simplifies manufacturing compared to complex lateral extraction mechanisms. The spherical segment can be produced using standard rotational molding or machining processes, and the pivot axis passing through the sphere center allows simple bearing and hinge designs. This geometric approach reduces manufacturing complexity and cost while enabling the required pivoting operation.
Data Source
AI summary
Mixing device having a container rotatable about container axis, with emptying opening being arranged in the bottom thereof, rotatable mixing tool arranged in the interior of the container, and closure element for closing the emptying opening. The closure element can be pivoted about a pivot axis for opening and closing the emptying opening. With the emptying opening closed, the closure element has inner surface arranged within the container, outer surface arranged outside the container, and edge surface arranged opposite an edge surface of the emptying opening. The closure element, emptying opening and pivot axis are of such a configuration and arrangement that a point arranged furthest away from the pivot axis on the inner surface or the edge surface describes a circle in the pivotal movement, wherein the closure element is arranged within the circle and the edge surfaces of the emptying opening are arranged outside the circle.