Rotating Boom Conveyor for Continuous Bulk Material Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
The handling of bulk materials, particularly during loading onto ships or other transports, faces challenges such as interruptions due to vessel movement and the need for transporting materials over long distances, which existing systems struggle to address efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A bulk material handling system featuring a loading boom assembly with a horizontal and vertical boom frame, a boom conveyor mechanism, and a supply bridge assembly that allows for flexible positioning and continuous operation by rotating and sliding components to efficiently convey and discharge bulk materials onto ships or other destinations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the vessel is moved during the loading process to distribute bulk material at selected locations, then the bulk material can be distributed at selected locations, but the loading process is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The boom conveyor mechanism is made dynamically adjustable along the boom axis, allowing the discharge point to be moved continuously during operation. This dynamic positioning capability enables the system to adapt to vessel movements and distribute material at selected locations without interrupting the loading process, as the conveyor can be repositioned while loading continues.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds a third dimension of adjustment by allowing the boom conveyor mechanism to be positioned at different locations along the boom axis in addition to the vertical and rotational adjustments. This multi-dimensional positioning capability provides flexible material distribution while maintaining continuous operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the boom conveyor mechanism is positioned at different locations along the boom axis, then flexible positioning of discharge points is achieved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The boom conveyor mechanism incorporates a displacement mechanism that enables dynamic repositioning along the boom axis. This dynamic capability allows the system to achieve flexible discharge point positioning through a relatively simple mechanical adjustment system rather than requiring multiple fixed conveyor installations.
Data Source
AI summary
A bulk material handling system and method use a horizontal boom frame supporting a conveyor mechanism for bulk material that is slidable relative to the horizontal boom frame. The conveyor mechanism is positioned such that, with bulk material received at a fixed location, or loading axis, on the horizontal boom frame, a portion of the conveyor mechanism will always be positioned to receive bulk material. The horizontal boom frame can also be made rotatable about the loading axis. By rotating the horizontal boom frame and advancing or withdrawing the conveyor mechanism, the discharge point for bulk materials relative to the loading axis can be altered radially and angularly without interrupting the flow of bulk materials through the system. A supply bridge assembly can be employed to bring the bulk materials to the loading axis of the boom.