Screening Module Skirt Arrays Prevent Aperture Blocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the coal mining industry, screening panels with fine apertures face a compromise between maintaining rigidity to prevent distortion and avoiding aperture blocking, where materials larger than the aperture size pass through instead of being retained.
Innovation Solution
A screening module with a panel member and a support arrangement featuring strengthening arrays with skirt portions that allow controlled sliding movement, providing flexibility to dislodge blocking materials while maintaining rigidity through clip-on attachment and adhesive bonding, and optionally using reinforcing ribs and polyurethane materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the screening panel is made rigid to prevent aperture distortion, then the panel maintains its shape and screening precision, but the apertures become prone to blocking by material buildup
Solution Approach 1:
The panel member is designed with dynamic flexibility rather than static rigidity. The support arrangement includes strengthening arrays with skirt portions that permit controlled vertical displacement and damped sliding movement, allowing the panel to dynamically respond to material buildup by flexing and impacting against support members to dislodge blocking material while maintaining aperture integrity during normal operation
Solution Approach 2:
The panel member is made of a flexible material (such as polyurethane) rather than rigid material, fundamentally changing the physical parameter of rigidity to flexibility. This allows the panel to flex and vibrate, preventing material buildup and aperture blocking while maintaining sufficient structural integrity through the support arrangement
2Reliability
If the panel member is made flexible to prevent aperture blocking, then material buildup is reduced, but the panel may distort and allow materials larger than aperture size to pass through
Solution Approach 1:
The support arrangement is segmented into multiple strengthening arrays distributed across the panel member. Each strengthening array with its skirt portion provides localized support to maintain aperture shape and prevent distortion, while the overall panel remains flexible enough to prevent blocking. The segmentation allows different regions to have different degrees of flexibility and support
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a composite structure combining a flexible panel member material (such as polyurethane) with a rigid support arrangement. This composite approach allows the panel to exhibit both flexibility (to prevent blocking) and rigidity (to prevent distortion) through the combination of materials and structural elements
3Strength
If steel reinforcement is used to strengthen the panel, then structural strength is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the material parameter from traditional rigid materials requiring steel reinforcement to flexible materials (such as polyurethane) that inherently provide sufficient strength and flexibility without steel reinforcement. This eliminates the need for complex steel reinforcement structures while maintaining panel strength and aperture integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The panel member is designed as a replaceable component that can be easily removed and replaced without complex tools or procedures. This disposable approach with the flexible material reduces manufacturing complexity compared to permanent steel-reinforced panels, as the simple flexible panel can be manufactured more easily and replaced when worn
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 inhibits aperture blocking while ensuring the necessary strength to prevent distortion, reducing the need for steel reinforcement and allowing for easy replacement of the screening module, thus lowering operational costs and maintaining efficient material classification.
Implementation Method 1
each channel may permit vertical displacement of the panel member relative to the underlying support members with a permitted degree of damped, or controlled, sliding movement between the skirt portions and the support members
Implementation Method 2
This assists in dislodging of material blocking or blinding the apertures of the panel member due to the panel member impacting against the support members
Implementation Method 3
the panel member may be bonded to the support arrangement by being moulded in a first moulding process with the support arrangement being moulded separately and then being adhesively bonded to an operatively lower surface of the panel member
Data Source
AI summary
A screening module for a screening assembly includes a panel member defining a plurality of screening apertures; and a support arrangement with which the panel member is fast. The support arrangement includes a plurality of strengthening arrays arranged, in use, beneath the panel member, each strengthening array comprising a skirt portion bounding an area on a bottom surface of the panel member.