Pneumatic Bulk Material Feeder with Multi-Hole Injector
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bulk material filling apparatuses are time-consuming, physically demanding, and generate dust, requiring protective measures, and are inflexible and costly due to the need for robust components and complex designs, especially when filling containers of varying lengths in vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A filling apparatus with a propulsive jet injector featuring multiple holes for compressed air, allowing for efficient and uniform pneumatic feeding of bulk material over longer distances without the need for pressure containers, using lightweight materials and sensors for fill level detection, and incorporating a control device for automated operation and dust management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If hand or semi-automatic filling is used, then the filling process is simple to implement, but it is very time-consuming and physically demanding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a pneumatic conveying system where compressed air is introduced through an injector with multiple holes to transport bulk material through a feed hose into the container. This automated pneumatic mechanism replaces manual handling, significantly increasing filling speed while maintaining operational simplicity.
2Device complexity
If hand or semi-automatic filling is used, then the equipment is simple, but considerable dust is generated endangering staff health
Solution Approach 1:
The pneumatic conveying system encapsulates the bulk material transport within a closed hose system, preventing dust from escaping into the environment. The material is conveyed through the feed hose in a contained manner, eliminating the dust generation problem associated with open manual filling while keeping the overall system simple.
3Adaptability or versatility
If various feed paths are created for various vehicle lengths, then different container sizes can be filled, but the filling process takes even longer and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The feed hose is designed as a flexible, dynamically adjustable component that can be extended or repositioned to accommodate different vehicle lengths and container positions. This dynamic adaptability allows a single feed path system to serve multiple configurations without requiring multiple fixed feed paths, thereby reducing filling time and costs.
4Use of energy by moving object
If a pressure container is used for storing bulk material, then pneumatic conveyance is enabled, but the container must be designed to be particularly robust and heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the pressurization function from the storage function. The storage container remains simple and lightweight, while a separate injector component with multiple holes introduces compressed air locally to enable pneumatic conveyance. This segmentation allows pneumatic capability without requiring the entire storage container to be a heavy pressure vessel.
5Productivity
If a transfer container configured as a pressure container is used, then bulk material can be metered and conveyed, but higher constructive expenditure and blockages occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the pressurization function from the storage and transfer containers, using only a simple injector with multiple holes to introduce compressed air at the point of conveyance. This eliminates the need for complex pressure container designs and associated high constructive expenditure, while maintaining effective bulk material conveyance capability.
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 apparatus enables rapid, cost-effective, and space-efficient filling of bulk material containers, reducing dust exposure and component weight, while maintaining a simple and flexible design suitable for mobile applications, with enhanced durability and reduced manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a pneumatic feeding device arranged under the metering device for feeding the bulk material into the container to be filled with the aid of compressed air via a feed hose
Implementation Method 2
the feeding device has an injector with a plurality of holes for the compressed air
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for filling a container with bulk material, in particular sand, comprises a storage container for the bulk material with a closable lid and an outlet, a metering device arranged beneath the storage container and a pneumatic feeding device arranged under the metering device for feeding the bulk material into the container to be filled with the aid of compressed air via a feed hose. The feeding device has an injector with a plurality of, preferably at least five, holes for the compressed air.