Reversible Double-Edged Belt Scraper Blade Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing belt scraper designs for endless conveyor belts in mining and earth material handling are not durable enough to withstand the abrasive environment and high linear speeds, leading to excessive wear and potential damage, and their manufacturing processes are labor-intensive and costly.
Innovation Solution
A double-edged belt scraper blade with a body made of multiple elastomers of different durometer values, featuring integral frame members and end mounts for structural rigidity and easy reorientation, which allows for multiple uses and easy replacement of worn surfaces, reducing deformation and maintenance costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional single-material scraper blades are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but durability and wear resistance are insufficient in abrasive environments
Solution Approach 1:
The scraper blade employs a composite structure with a body made of first elastomer material and a wear surface made of second elastomer material with different durometer values. This composite material approach allows the blade to combine the benefits of different materials - the softer body material provides flexibility and shock absorption while the harder wear surface material provides abrasion resistance, thereby improving durability without excessive manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the scraper blade are made from elastomer materials with different durometer values. The wear surface uses a harder elastomer material to resist abrasion from abrasive materials, while the body uses a softer elastomer material to provide flexibility and cushioning. This local differentiation of material properties optimizes performance for each specific functional requirement
2Reliability
If scraper blades are made harder to resist wear, then durability improves, but flexibility and ability to maintain contact with belt deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The scraper blade uses composite elastomer materials with different durometer values in different sections. The wear surface is made from a harder elastomer material to provide wear resistance, while the body is made from a softer elastomer material to maintain flexibility and the ability to conform to the belt surface, thus resolving the contradiction between hardness and flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The blade exhibits local quality differentiation where the wear surface has higher hardness to resist abrasion while the body maintains lower hardness to provide flexibility. This spatial variation in material properties allows simultaneous optimization of wear resistance and flexibility for effective belt contact
3Productivity
If single-edged scrapers are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but productivity and service life are reduced due to one-way wear
Solution Approach 1:
The scraper blade is segmented into distinct functional sections: a body portion and a wear surface portion, with the wear surface having a leading edge and a trailing edge. This segmentation allows the blade to be designed as a double-edged scraper where both edges can contact and scrape the belt, effectively doubling the service life and productivity while maintaining manageable manufacturing complexity through modular construction
Solution Approach 2:
The scraper blade design transitions from a single-edged to a double-edged configuration, utilizing both the leading and trailing edges of the wear surface to contact the belt. This dimensional expansion of the scraping function increases productivity and service life by allowing the blade to effectively scrape material from both directions along the belt width
Data Source
AI summary
A reversible belt scraper blade provides two opposed scraping surfaces on an integrally constructed body. Each scraping surface has an elastomeric wear region transitioning to an elastomeric central region. Two integral frame members are integrally joined into the central region. Each integral frame member runs the length of the belt scraper blade and is at least partially exposed at their ends. End mounts attach to the exposed integral frame members and the reversible belt scraper blade is reversible about the end mounts. The wear regions may have sub-regions of different hardness to provide good scraping qualities combined with improved structural rigidity. The central region may also have sub-regions of different hardness to improve structural rigidity.