Pneumatic Vibration Drive for Metering Device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional dosing devices for free-flowing materials face issues with high energy consumption, noise, and material magnetization due to electromechanical vibration drives, leading to inconsistent sample compaction and difficulty in cleaning.

Innovation Solution

A pneumatic vibration drive system that transmits vibrations directly to the dosing vessel without external housing parts, using a flow chamber with mass elements and compressed air to create irregular turbulence, reducing energy consumption and noise while preventing material magnetization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If an electromechanical oscillating drive acts on the outside of the hopper to compact the material, then the sample material is compacted to reduce packing density fluctuations, but the energy consumption is high and noise is generated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepacking density consistencyVSAvoidvibration energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the vibration generation function from the external hopper surface and relocates it to internal mass elements that move freely within a flow chamber. This eliminates the need for external electromechanical oscillating drives acting on the hopper outside, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining the compaction function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the electromechanical oscillating drive system with a pneumatic system that introduces compressed air into the flow chamber. This substitution eliminates the need for complex electromechanical components, reducing both energy consumption and noise while achieving the same material compaction effect.

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

2Manufacturing precision

If an electromechanical oscillating drive is used to compact the material in the dosing spoon, then the material is compacted uniformly, but noise is generated and energy consumption is high

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial compaction uniformityVSAvoidnoise level
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the electromechanical oscillating drive with a pneumatic system using compressed air to move mass elements. This substitution eliminates the noise associated with electromechanical components while maintaining effective material compaction through the movement of mass elements within the flow chamber.

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

3Manufacturing precision

If an electromechanical drive is used to compact the material, then the dosing precision is improved, but the material becomes magnetized and adheres to steel parts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedosing precisionVSAvoidmaterial magnetization
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the electromechanical drive system with a purely pneumatic system using compressed air and non-magnetic mass elements. This substitution eliminates the electromagnetic fields that cause material magnetization, allowing precise dosing to be achieved without the harmful side effect of material adhesion to steel parts.

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

4Manufacturing precision

If a mechanical or electromechanical oscillating drive acts on the hopper to compact the material, then the packing density is stabilized, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepacking density stabilityVSAvoidvibration drive system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the vibration generation function from complex external electromechanical drives and implements it through simple internal mass elements moved by compressed air. This extraction simplifies the overall device structure while maintaining the ability to stabilize packing density through material compaction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a pneumatic system with compressed air to move mass elements within the flow chamber, replacing complex electromechanical oscillating drives. This pneumatic approach reduces device complexity and cost while achieving the same material compaction and packing density stabilization effect.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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

Achieves more uniform sample compaction with reduced energy consumption and noise, and prevents material magnetization, resulting in more reproducible dosing results.

Implementation Method 1

compressed air can be introduced into the flow chamber in order to cause a flow moving the mass elements therein

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompressed air flow: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

The selected pressure level influences the flow behavior, which is preferably matched to the mass elements and the flow chamber in such a way that irregular turbulence or turbulent flows occur therein

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTurbulence: Turbulence

Implementation Method 3

which causes the mass element or elements to strike the chamber walls in a preferably irregular or chaotic sequence in terms of time and direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImpact force: Impact Force

Implementation Method 4

The desired vortices, preferably irregular in terms of time and/or direction of the mass element(s) in the chamber and the vibrations caused by their impact on the chamber walls

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Implementation Method 5

Vibrations or oscillations can be transmitted to the dosing vessel without a detour via external housing parts (such as the funnel). Compared to conventional dosing devices, according to the solution according to the invention, the compression of the sample material that is desired to avoid cavities in the dosing vessel can be achieved with less energy consumption

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration transmission: Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP2176003B1Metering device
Publication Date: 2011.03.30 F L SMIDTH & CO AS
  • EP2176003B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2176003B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP2176003B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a metering device (1) for metering pourable material, preferably for a sample preparation device (2) for preparing pourable sample material (51), comprising at least one metering vessel (4) and an associated vibratory drive arrangement (18) for vibratory driving. For the advantageous refinement, the vibratory drive arrangement (18) comprises a flow chamber (19) with one or more mass elements (20) received therein in a moveable manner, wherein the flow chamber (19) comprises at least one fluid inlet (26) for incoming fluid and at least one fluid outlet (30) for escaping of the fluid. The invention further relates to a sample preparation device (2) for preparing pourable sample material (51), comprising at least one metering device (1) as mentioned above.