Rotating Bucket Elevator for Abrasive Material Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyor belts used to move heavy and/or abrasive materials are inefficient, cumbersome, and require frequent maintenance due to wear from abrasive materials, limiting their versatility and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A bucket elevator system with self-supporting metal structure, rotatable buckets, and controlled unloading mechanisms that minimize abrasion and allow flexible routing, enabling efficient and low-maintenance material transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conveyor belts are used to move heavy and abrasive materials, then the materials can be transported from lower to higher heights, but the conveyor belts require frequent maintenance due to rapid wear of the support belt
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor system is segmented into discrete buckets that are individually replaceable. Each bucket is a separate component that can be worn and replaced independently, rather than requiring replacement of the entire conveyor belt system. This segmentation allows for easier maintenance and reduces downtime.
Solution Approach 2:
The buckets are designed as inexpensive, easily replaceable components that can withstand abrasive wear. When a bucket becomes worn, it can be quickly replaced with a new one, rather than maintaining expensive, complex conveyor belt systems. The buckets are essentially disposable components that extend the overall system life.
2Productivity
If conveyor belts are used to move heavy and abrasive materials, then the materials can be transported, but the conveyor belts require paths with low slope and particular trajectories, making them cumbersome and less efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The bucket elevator system uses a vertical lifting mechanism with rotating buckets that can adapt to different material flow conditions. The buckets rotate to dump material at the top, allowing for flexible positioning and eliminating the need for complex zig-zag paths. This dynamic bucket rotation provides adaptability in material handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from horizontal conveyor belt movement to vertical bucket elevator movement. By changing the primary dimension of material transport from horizontal to vertical, the system eliminates the need for long, complex paths with low slopes, achieving more direct and efficient material transport.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conveyor belts are used to move heavy and abrasive materials, then the materials can be transported, but the conveyor belts are not versatile in terms of configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The bucket elevator system serves multiple functions: it can transport materials vertically, the buckets can rotate to dump material in different directions, and the system can handle various types of bulk materials. This multi-functionality provides configuration versatility without requiring complex specialized systems for each application.
Data Source
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AI summary
A bucket elevator (1) for moving heavy and/or abrasive material, for example marble, quartz, silica or the like, from a first height to a second height superimposed to the first, which comprises a plurality of buckets (4) for conveying said heavy and/or abrasive material from at least one loading area (2) to at least one raised area (3) for unloading the moved heavy and/or abrasive material. The bucket elevator (1) further comprises movement means (5) operatively connected with the plurality of buckets (4) and suitably configured to move the latter between the at least one loading area (2) and the at least one unloading area (3). The buckets (4) are further free to rotate around the rotation axis (1) thereof at least at the at least one unloading area (3). The bucket elevator (1) further comprises first unloading means (6) arranged at said at least one unloading area (3) and acting on the buckets (4) to allow the rotation thereof around the second axis (T) so as to unload said heavy and/or abrasive material at the at least one unloading area (3).