Rotor Dosing Mechanism for Bulk Material Transfer Station

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mobile transfer stations for bulk goods face challenges with jamming issues in the transition area between the floor conveyor and overhead conveyor, particularly due to the initial pressure of bulk material, which limits efficient and metered upward conveying.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a rotor with an axis of rotation aligned in the transport direction above the floor conveyor and displaceable floor elements that can cover the conveyor, allowing for reduced initial pressure and controlled metering of material, thereby preventing jamming and ensuring smooth upward conveying.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If bulk material is unloaded all at once onto the transfer station, then the loading efficiency is improved, but jamming occurs in the transition area between the floor conveyor and overhead conveyor due to initial material pressure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveloading efficiencyVSAvoidconveying reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The rotor is activated before bulk material is unloaded onto the transfer station. This preliminary rotation creates a dosing effect that controls the material flow in advance, preventing excessive pressure buildup in the transition area between conveyors while still allowing efficient loading

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Speed

If the rotor rotates at high speed to increase material throughput, then the conveying speed is improved, but the dosing precision deteriorates causing uneven material flow

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconveying speedVSAvoiddosing precision
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The rotor drive is designed to be variable-speed controllable, allowing the rotation speed to be dynamically adjusted. This enables optimization between conveying speed and dosing precision by selecting appropriate rotational speeds based on material characteristics and conveying requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The rotational speed of the rotor is used as a controllable parameter to regulate material flow. By changing this parameter, the system achieves both adequate conveying speed and precise dosing, resolving the contradiction between speed and precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If the floor conveyor operates continuously to maintain material supply, then the material availability is improved, but the pressure buildup increases causing jamming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial availabilityVSAvoidmaterial pressure
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The rotor acts as an intermediary device between the floor conveyor and overhead conveyor. It receives material from the floor conveyor and meters it to the overhead conveyor, thereby maintaining material availability while reducing pressure buildup through controlled dosing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 effectively minimizes pressure on the floor conveyor, enabling reliable and metered upward conveying of bulk material without jamming issues, enhancing the overall conveying efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

at least one rotor arranged above the floor conveyor device for dosing the bulk material, which rotor has an axis of rotation aligned in the transport direction of the floor conveyor device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

at least one floor element, which is displaceable transversely to the transport direction of the floor conveyor in such a way that it can be brought from a rest position into at least one covering position, in which it partially covers the floor conveyor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 3

an overhead conveyor arranged in the area of the front wall, which connects to the floor conveyor and conveys the bulk material upwards

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP2397425B1Mobile transfer station for transferring bulk material
Publication Date: 2013.05.29 FLIEGL JOSEF
  • EP2397425B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2397425B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2397425B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The station has a receiving container (1) for storing bulk material, and a base (2) equipped with a base conveyer system (6). Side walls (3, 4) are adjustably moved between an opened unfold work position and a lifted up work position. A high conveyer system (7) is arranged within a region of a front wall (5) and the base conveyer system, and a chassis (11) promotes the bulk material in an upward direction. A rotor (12) is arranged above the base conveyer system for dosage of the bulk material, and includes an aligned rotation axis in a transportation direction of the base conveyer system. The base conveyer system is selected from a scraper floor, conveyor, pushing floor or sliding floor.