Scraper Body Rolling Contact Friction Reduction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Scraper conveyors in coal mining face issues with wear and fatigue due to sliding friction and corrosion, leading to increased energy consumption, maintenance costs, and reduced service life, as well as quality issues with coal products from blocky material crushing.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of a scraper conveying device with a non-metallic elastomer supporting body and rolling bodies that transition friction from sliding to rolling contact, reducing wear and energy consumption, and allowing for longer maintenance cycles and improved coal quality through elastic buffering.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If alloy steel scrapers are used, then strength and durability are improved, but weight and friction resistance increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescraper strengthVSAvoidscraper weight
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The scraper body is constructed from composite materials combining a metal skeleton with polymeric material coating, achieving both high strength and reduced weight compared to traditional alloy steel scrapers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the material parameters by using polymeric coatings with specific hardness and elasticity properties, optimizing the balance between strength, weight, and friction characteristics

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If sliding friction contact is used between scraper and groove ledge, then structural simplicity is maintained, but wear and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidwear
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces sliding friction mechanical contact with rolling friction contact by introducing rolling elements (such as steel balls or rollers) between the scraper and groove ledge, significantly reducing wear and energy consumption

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

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the friction mechanism parameter from sliding to rolling contact, fundamentally altering the wear characteristics and energy consumption of the scraper-groove interaction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If alloy steel scrapers are used, then wear resistance is improved, but energy consumption and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewear resistanceVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The polymeric coating on the scraper body provides excellent wear resistance while being lighter than alloy steel, reducing the energy required to move the scraper along the groove

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

By replacing sliding friction with rolling friction through the introduction of rolling elements, the energy consumption is significantly reduced while maintaining or improving wear resistance

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

4Productivity

If heavy driving device is used to increase output power, then transportation capacity is improved, but weight and operating space increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransportation capacityVSAvoiddriving device weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By replacing sliding friction with rolling friction in the scraper-groove interaction, the overall friction resistance of the system is reduced, allowing for a more compact and lighter driving device to achieve the same transportation capacity

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

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the friction parameter from high sliding friction to low rolling friction, reducing the power requirements and enabling a more compact driving device design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This solution significantly reduces friction resistance and wear, prolongs maintenance cycles, decreases energy consumption, and enhances coal quality by minimizing blocky coal crushing, while maintaining structural stability and reducing maintenance costs.

Implementation Method 1

The mounting surface is provided with a rolling body, and the rolling body is capable of supporting the scraper body when the scraper is located above the material conveying groove

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRolling friction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

the supporting body is a nonmetallic elastomer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3884961B1Material conveying device and scraper
Publication Date: 2023.12.13 SHANDONG LINGXIYUAN SCI TECH DEV CORP
  • EP3884961B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3884961B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP3884961B1 patent drawingFigure 7~8

AI summary

The present invention provides a scraper. The scraper includes: a scraper body, having a bottom surface and a top surface opposite to the bottom surface; and a supporting body, formed on the bottom surface of the scraper body, wherein the supporting body is provided with a mounting surface and the mounting surface forms a part of the bottom surface; the mounting surface is provided with a rolling body, and the rolling body is able to support the scraping body when the scraper is located at a mounting position; and the supporting body is a nonmetallic elastomer. Meanwhile, the present invention provides material conveying equipment using the scraper, for example a scraper conveyor. By changing a contact and friction mode of the scraper and a conveying groove, the working state of the scraper and the whole load of the conveyor are improved, idle load is reduced, and the whole service life of the scraper and even the scraper conveyor is prolonged.