Replaceable Polymer Impact Rings for Dehulling Wear Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dehulling devices face challenges with the wear and disposal of impact rings, which require manual handling due to their weight and size, and the difficulty in determining the precise timing for replacement, leading to potential damage to the material being dehulled and ecological and economic inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

The impact ring features a detachable polymer layer arranged in fastening elements, allowing for easy replacement without removing the entire ring, combined with sensor monitoring to determine wear accurately.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the polymer layer is attached to the metal ring by adhesive, then the impact ring maintains structural integrity during operation, but the metal ring cannot be reused after polymer layer wear and disposal is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidreusability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The impact ring is divided into two separable components: a durable metal ring body and a replaceable polymer layer. The polymer layer is no longer permanently bonded but can be detached and replaced independently, allowing the metal ring to be reused while the polymer layer is disposed of after wear.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The polymer layer is designed as a consumable component that can be discarded after wear, while the metal ring body is recovered and reused. This separation allows selective disposal of only the worn polymer material rather than the entire impact ring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the entire impact ring is replaced when polymer layer wears out, then material damage prevention is ensured, but considerable time and effort are required for removal and transport

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial damage preventionVSAvoidreplacement time
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the polymer layer from the metal ring, only the worn polymer layer needs to be replaced rather than the entire impact ring. This significantly reduces replacement time and effort while ensuring material damage prevention by allowing timely polymer layer replacement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The polymer layer is extracted as a separate replaceable component from the metal ring structure. This allows the polymer layer to be removed and replaced independently without disturbing the metal ring, reducing replacement complexity and time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If the impact ring is moved in a wavelike manner during operation, then different surface sections are exposed to grain impact, but the polymer layer still experiences wear and replacement is necessary

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoidpolymer layer lifespan
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The impact ring is designed with wave-like motion capability during operation, causing different surface sections to be exposed to grain impact dynamically. This extends polymer layer lifespan by distributing wear across different areas, but the separable design allows replacement when any section becomes worn.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Facilitates efficient and timely replacement of worn polymer layers, reducing operational downtime and environmental impact while preventing material damage, optimizing device performance.

Implementation Method 1

layers of rubber-like polymer material are better suited for dehulling granular material than abrasive non-elastic surfaces

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the granular grain to be dehulled is fed through an inlet to a distributor head such as a rotor and hurled from the circumferential distribution head through radial openings in the distributor head against one or more rough dehulling surfaces

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentEP4163012B1Impact ring and improved dehulling device
Publication Date: 2025.08.13 BUHLER AG
  • EP4163012B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP4163012B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4163012B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to an impact ring (1) for a device (S) for dehulling of granular good, comprising a ring-shaped body (2) of metal and a polymer layer (3) on its entire inner surface, wherein the polymer layer (3) is releasably arranged on the inner surface of the ring-shaped body (2). The present invention further relates to a device (S) for dehulling of granular material with such an impact ring and/or sensors (20, 21) for monitoring the condition of the impact ring (1), which are selected from the group consisting of load sensors (20) and vibration sensors (21).