Roller Assembly Mechanical Booster for Grinding Gap Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing grinding devices require a large amount of space and have non-linear adjustment mechanisms, making it difficult to achieve high force for adjusting the grinding gap efficiently.

Innovation Solution

A roller pack with a mechanical booster that includes an input member, an output member, and booster elements with specific contact surfaces that allow for axial and transverse movement, enabling effective force amplification and linear adjustment of the grinding gap, while minimizing space usage and eliminating disruptive torques.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If constructions with an eccentric and a lever are used to apply force for setting the grinding gap, then high force for adjusting the grinding gap can be achieved, but a comparatively large amount of space is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforce for setting the grinding gapVSAvoidspace required
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical system consisting of an eccentric and a lever with a hydraulic or pneumatic actuator. This substitution maintains the force amplification capability while significantly reducing the space required for the adjustment mechanism. The actuator directly applies force to the bearing body, eliminating the need for complex mechanical linkages.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a hydraulic or pneumatic actuator to generate and transmit force for adjusting the grinding gap. This approach allows high force to be achieved in a compact form factor, as fluid pressure can generate substantial force within a small volume, thereby resolving the contradiction between force requirement and space consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Force

If constructions with an eccentric and a lever are used for adjusting the grinding gap, then force amplification is achieved, but the position of the output member does not depend linearly on the input member, making adjustment difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforce amplificationVSAvoidadjustment difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the non-linear mechanical transmission of the eccentric-lever system with a direct-acting hydraulic or pneumatic actuator. This substitution creates a linear relationship between the control input (e.g., valve position or pressure control) and the output member position, making the adjustment process more intuitive and easier to control while maintaining force amplification capabilities.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the control parameter from angular displacement in the eccentric-lever system to linear displacement or pressure control in the actuator system. This parameter change enables a direct, linear correlation between the input control and output position, simplifying the adjustment operation while preserving the force multiplication effect.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Length of moving object

If the grinding gap is adjusted by moving the movably mounted roller to an operating gap, then the grinding gap can be adjusted, but disruptive torques occur in known solutions with eccentrics

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrinding gapVSAvoiddisruptive torques
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the eccentric-based mechanical system that generates disruptive torques with a hydraulic or pneumatic actuator. This substitution eliminates the eccentricity-induced torque fluctuations and provides smooth, controlled force application during grinding gap adjustment, thereby removing the harmful disruptive torques while maintaining the ability to adjust the gap width.

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

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 solution provides a compact and efficient means to adjust the grinding gap with high force amplification, simplifying the adjustment process and reducing the effort required, while preventing disruptive torques and allowing for both fine and coarse adjustments.

Implementation Method 1

The adjusting device contains a mechanical booster which has an input member for introducing an input force into the power booster, an output member coupled to the second bearing body for introducing an output force into the second bearing body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Advantage: Mechanical Advantage

Data Source

PatentEP3597299B1Rolling package, milling device and method for adjusting the milling gap of a milling device
Publication Date: 2021.03.03 BUHLER AG
  • EP3597299B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3597299B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3597299B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is, among other things, a roller assembly for a grinding device (70), comprising a first roller held by at least one first bearing body (13) and a second roller held by at least one second bearing body (14), wherein the first bearing body (13) and the second bearing body (14) are adjustable relative to each other by means of an adjusting device (15) such that a grinding gap formed between the first roller and the second roller is adjustable. The adjusting device (15) includes a mechanical force amplifier (30) with an input element (31), an output element (32), and amplifier elements (33, 35, 47) which have contact surfaces (34, 36, 45, 46).The contact surfaces (34, 36, 45, 46) are arranged such that a movement of the first amplifier element (33) in an axial direction (A) causes a movement of the second amplifier element (35) in a transverse direction (Q), and this in turn causes a movement of the output element (32) in the axial direction (A). Furthermore, a grinding device (70) with such a roller assembly and a method for adjusting the grinding gap of such a roller assembly are disclosed.