Compact Roller Grain Mill with Cantilevered Drive and Cyclone Separator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional grain milling equipment is large, complex, and inefficient, leading to limited availability, high shipping costs, and inability to process locally grown grains due to space inefficiency and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A compact roller grain mill design featuring an upper and lower frame with cantilever-mounted electric drives, centrifugal scatterers, and cyclone separators to remove debris, optimizing space usage and reducing vibrations, making the machine easier to ship and install in tight spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional large-scale grain milling equipment is used, then milling capacity is sufficient, but the equipment occupies excessive space and has high complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested configuration where the electric drive is positioned within the frame structure, and the cyclone separators are arranged within the overall equipment footprint. This nesting allows multiple functional components to occupy overlapping or adjacent spaces, achieving high milling capacity without proportionally increasing the equipment's external dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional horizontal arrangement to a three-dimensional configuration by placing the electric drive in a cantilevered position extending from the frame, and positioning cyclone separators at elevated locations. This vertical and spatial reorganization increases functional density without expanding the ground footprint, effectively resolving the contradiction between capacity and space occupation.
2Ease of operation
If traditional grain mill designs are used, then milling function is provided, but the equipment is difficult to ship and install in tight spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the grain mill into modular components including a frame, electric drive unit, roller milling machines, and cyclone separators that can be independently manufactured and assembled. This segmentation allows the equipment to be shipped in manageable sections and installed in confined spaces, improving ease of installation while maintaining compact overall dimensions.
3Area of stationary object
If components are placed for optimal space efficiency, then footprint is reduced, but maintenance accessibility may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric design in the frame structure and component placement, where the electric drive is cantilevered to one side and cyclone separators are positioned at specific locations that optimize both space utilization and maintenance access. This asymmetric arrangement prevents uniform crowding and creates natural access pathways for maintenance personnel, resolving the contradiction between compact footprint and component accessibility.
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 design improves efficiency, reduces space requirements, lowers shipping costs, and allows for local processing of grains, making the equipment more accessible and easier to maintain.
Implementation Method 1
Centrifugal scatterers are connected with product pipelines to each roller milling machine in order to remove partial fractures, waste, and other debris which can be removed through a vacuum and drawn through one or more cyclone separators.
Data Source
AI summary
The exemplary embodiments herein provide a roller grain mill assembly having a lower frame, a plurality of roller grain mills attached to the lower frame, an upper frame extending upwardly from the lower frame, a single electric drive mechanically coupled to each of the roller grain mills, and a cyclone separator placed in gaseous communication with the roller grain mills and located above the electric drive. In some embodiments, a centrifugal scatterer may be suspended from the upper frame and placed in gaseous communication with the roller grain mill. In other embodiments, a cyclone separator may be placed in gaseous communication with the roller grain mill and centrifugal scatterer. An electric drive coupled to each roller grain mill may be cantilevered off the lower frame.