Pneumatic Fluidizing Hopper for Bulk Solid Dosing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dosing devices for bulk goods and solids face inefficiencies in filling speed and maintenance due to mechanical interaction, which leads to dirty components, high cleaning costs, and potential material property changes.

Innovation Solution

The method involves fluidizing solids, regulating flow with an inflation or pinch valve, buffering and aerating in a pipe section, and force-free pickup and deposition to achieve rapid and gentle filling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If mechanical dosing devices (screws, vibrating chutes, flaps) are used to condition materials for volumetric and gravimetric dosing, then a desired degree of homogeneity can be achieved, but the filling speed becomes unsatisfactory and mechanical components get dirty requiring frequent cleaning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehomogeneity of dosingVSAvoidfilling speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical dosing devices (screws, vibrating chutes, flaps) with a pneumatic system that uses fluidized air streams to condition and transport bulk goods. This substitution eliminates mechanical contact with the material, achieving both high filling speeds and homogeneous dosing without the contamination and cleaning issues associated with mechanical components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention employs pneumatic principles by using fluidized air streams to suspend, transport, and distribute bulk goods. The system uses controlled air flows to create homogeneous material distribution and achieve rapid filling, replacing all mechanical conditioning mechanisms with pneumatic action

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Manufacturing precision

If mechanical components are arranged in the material flow to ensure dosing homogeneity, then dosing precision is improved, but cleaning time and maintenance costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedosing homogeneityVSAvoidcleaning downtime
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates mechanical components from the material flow path by using pneumatic conditioning methods. Air streams suspend and distribute bulk goods without physical contact, removing screws, flaps, and other mechanical elements that would require cleaning and maintenance, thereby eliminating cleaning downtime while maintaining dosing homogeneity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If mechanical interaction is used to condition bulk goods for dosing, then flow rate control is achieved, but the risk of causing undesirable changes in material properties increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflow rate controlVSAvoidmaterial property changes
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical flow rate control mechanisms with pneumatic control. Fluidized air streams regulate material flow and conditioning without physical contact, preventing mechanical stress, compression, or contamination that could alter material properties, while still achieving precise flow rate control for dosing applications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

This method enables quick and gentle filling of sensitive solids while minimizing mechanical interaction, reducing maintenance and preserving material properties.

Implementation Method 1

the gas supply blows a gas at overpressure through the gas inlet nozzle into the interior of the hopper, so that solid particles poured into the hopper 11 are fluidized in the resulting gas stream

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluidization: Fluidisation

Implementation Method 2

the hatched ring tube 23 can be pressurized by gas filling

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas pressure control: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 3

buffering and aerating the fluidized solid in a pipe section

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAeration: Aeration

Data Source

PatentEP2520495B1Metering method
Publication Date: 2015.06.10 UCON CONTAINERSYST
  • EP2520495B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The body (1) has a fluidizer arranged in flow direction of a material downstream of a fluidizer bulking or pinch valve (20). A discharge pipe is ventilated by a ventilating device (50) and arranged in the flow direction of the material downstream of the pinch valve. A retention device holds containers (60). A gas inlet pipe (12) is connectable with a gas supply such that gas with high pressure is blown into interior of a fluidizing hopper (11) through the pipe from the gas supply, and solid particles in the existing gas are fluidized when the body is operated. An independent claim is also included for a method for metering a fluidizing solid material.