Resilient Chute Liner with Segmented Flanges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Chutes used to guide materials like ore and rock onto conveyor belts suffer from wear and tear and sticky material build-up, which hardens over time, requiring significant effort to remove.
Innovation Solution
A chute liner made from resilient shock-absorbing material with locating formations and flexible flanges is used, which can be easily fixed to the chute wall and replaced as needed, providing protection against impact and preventing material adhesion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional chute is used to guide material onto conveyor belts, then material can be guided effectively, but the chute suffers from wear and tear and sticky material build-up
Solution Approach 1:
The chute is divided into modular liner segments that can be independently installed and replaced. Each liner is a separate component with locating formations and flanges that allow individual replacement without replacing the entire chute structure, addressing wear and durability issues systematically.
Solution Approach 2:
A resilient liner material acts as an intermediary between the harsh material flow environment and the permanent chute structure. The liner absorbs impact and prevents direct contact between falling material and the metal chute wall, reducing wear and preventing material build-up.
2Reliability
If the chute is lined with protective material, then wear is reduced, but the lining material must be securely fixed to prevent detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing system is segmented into locating formations on the liner and corresponding fixing formations on the chute wall. This modular approach simplifies the attachment mechanism while ensuring secure fixation through complementary geometric features that engage easily.
Solution Approach 2:
The locating formations with undercuts are designed to self-align and self-lock into the fixing formations during installation. The resilient material itself provides the locking action through elastic deformation, eliminating the need for complex external fastening mechanisms.
3Reliability
If resilient shock-absorbing material is used for the liner, then impact is absorbed and wear is reduced, but the liner must be replaceable when worn
Solution Approach 1:
The liner is designed as a segmented, modular component that can be independently removed and replaced. The locating formations and flanges create discrete sections that can be accessed and replaced individually, making maintenance simple despite the complex shock-absorbing material properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient liner is designed as a consumable component with a finite service life. When the liner material becomes worn, it is replaced rather than repaired, similar to disposable components. This approach is economical because the liner is simpler to replace than to repair, and the resilient material cannot be restored once degraded.
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 chute liners effectively absorb impact, reduce wear, and prevent sticky material from adhering, thus extending the chute's lifespan and simplifying maintenance by allowing for modular replacement of worn parts.
Implementation Method 1
formed from a resilient shock-absorbing material
Implementation Method 2
resilient shock-absorbing material
Implementation Method 3
flexible flanges... preventing material adhesion
Data Source
AI summary
A chute liner which has an elongate body which is formed from a resilient shock-absorbing material and which has an inner side and an outer side, at least one locating formation on the inner side, and at least one elongate flange which is located at least on one side of the locating formation and a chute wherein a plurality of chute liners are engaged with a wall of the chute.