Liquid-Tight Reciprocating Floor Sub-Deck Joint Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid-tight reciprocating slat conveyor systems face challenges in maintaining a leak-proof seal, particularly during installation and in preventing liquid ingress around fasteners, due to complex alignment requirements and incomplete sealing processes.
Innovation Solution
A liquid-tight reciprocating floor system featuring rotationally-formed longitudinal sub-deck joints with internal and external sealing structures, including a vertical depression feature and dedicated fastening mechanisms, ensures a self-aligning and self-tightening sub-deck assembly that prevents lateral movement and secures the sub-deck sections to the load-holding compartment framework without exposing fasteners to liquids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional tongue-and-groove connections are used to join sub-deck sections, then the liquid-tight seal is formed, but the alignment requirements become complex and installation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The sub-deck is divided into separate sections that can be independently installed, with each section containing guide beams and valleys designed to align with adjacent sections. This segmentation allows for simpler installation of individual components while maintaining the overall liquid-tight seal through the joint design.
Solution Approach 2:
A seal is introduced as an intermediary element between the guide beams of adjacent sub-deck sections. This seal mediates the connection between sections, ensuring liquid-tightness while simplifying the alignment process by providing a dedicated sealing interface that guides proper positioning during installation.
2Strength
If fasteners are used to secure sub-deck sections to the framework, then the sub-deck assembly is secured, but liquid can ingress around the fasteners
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible seal is positioned between the guide beams of adjacent sub-deck sections and extends to cover the fastener holes in the framework. This flexible sealing element prevents liquid from ingressing around fasteners while allowing the fasteners to securely attach the sub-deck to the framework.
3Reliability
If the seal is positioned at the top of guide beams, then the liquid-tight seal is formed, but the fasteners remain exposed to liquids
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is extended from the top surface of the guide beams downward into the space below, creating a three-dimensional sealing barrier. This dimensional extension allows the seal to protect fasteners located in the lower space from liquid exposure while maintaining the liquid-tight seal at the guide beam level.
4Reliability
If complex sealing processes are used to ensure liquid-tightness, then the seal is effective, but the installation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is pre-positioned between the guide beams of adjacent sub-deck sections before the sections are fully assembled and fastened to the framework. This preliminary placement of the seal simplifies the subsequent installation process by establishing the liquid-tight barrier early, reducing the time required for final sealing operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid-tight reciprocating floor construction or system includes a plurality of longitudinal sub-deck sections having at least one longitudinal guide beam and at least one longitudinal valley. A first longitudinal side edge of one longitudinal sub-deck section is preferably in a mating relationship with an adjacent second longitudinal side edge of another longitudinal sub-deck section. An internal sealing structure is preferably positioned between adjacent first and second longitudinal side edges to form a longitudinal liquid-tight sub-deck joint therebetween.