Counter-Driven Screw Crusher for Centralized Material Flow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing crushers lack the ability to intentionally direct material from the hopper edges to the center for optimal crushing, leading to inefficient separation and potential jamming, especially when processing large pieces of material.

Innovation Solution

A crusher design featuring counter-driven screw rotors with symmetrically arranged screw blades of opposing threads, along with recesses and separation bars, ensures continuous material movement to the center for uniform crushing in all directions, and includes a modular drive unit and a replaceable separation sieve for enhanced functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional cutting and crushing blades are used without additional feeder, then the device structure is simpler, but the material cannot be effectively directed to the center for optimal crushing, leading to separation inefficiency and potential jamming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseparation efficiencyVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting and crushing blades are segmented into modular blocks that can be independently arranged on the shafts. These segmented blocks allow for the integration of additional functional elements like feeders while maintaining the basic crushing capability. The segmentation enables flexible configuration to achieve both simple structure and improved productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cutting and crushing blades are designed with multi-functionality, serving both as cutting edges and as part of the material directing system. The blades are configured to simultaneously perform separation and guide material toward the center, eliminating the need for separate complex feeding mechanisms while improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Strength

If counter-rotating shafts with overlapping cutting blocks are used, then the crushing effect is improved, but the material flow becomes uncontrolled and may cause jamming at the edges

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecrushing effectVSAvoidmaterial flow control
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting blocks on the counter-rotating shafts are positioned asymmetrically with intentional gaps rather than complete overlap. This asymmetric arrangement creates controlled material flow paths that prevent edge jamming while maintaining effective crushing in the center. The gaps allow material to be gradually fed into the crushing zone rather than being abruptly compressed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The cutting blocks serve as intermediaries between the counter-rotating shafts and the material being processed. They are positioned to first guide material toward the center and then apply crushing force, mediating the interaction between the shafts and material to prevent direct contact at the edges that would cause jamming.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If scraping blocks are added to clean the gaps between blades, then the cleaning function is improved, but the device complexity increases and the blocks lack additional crushing function

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning capabilityVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The scraping blocks are designed with multi-functionality, serving both as cleaning elements for the gaps between blades and as additional crushing elements. The blocks are positioned and shaped to scrape adhered material from the blade gaps while simultaneously applying crushing force to the material in those regions, eliminating the need for separate cleaning mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning function and crushing function are merged into a single integrated system. The scraping blocks perform both cleaning and crushing operations simultaneously, combining what would traditionally be separate functions into one unified component, thereby improving ease of manufacture without significantly increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Stress or pressure

If blades are arranged in helix with gradual engagement, then the specific pressure per cm2 is reduced, but the material separation is not effective in both machine directions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespecific pressureVSAvoidseparation operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Stress or pressureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting blocks are arranged to engage material in a periodic sequence as the shafts rotate, with each block engaging at different positions. This periodic engagement allows material to be progressively separated in both machine directions while maintaining reduced specific pressure. The periodic action creates multiple separation opportunities as material passes through different blade configurations during rotation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The blade arrangement incorporates dynamic elements where the engagement of cutting blocks changes continuously during rotation. The helical arrangement combined with counter-rotation creates a dynamic separation pattern that adapts to material flow, enabling effective separation in both directions while maintaining optimal pressure distribution throughout the crushing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 design enhances separation efficiency, prevents material overload, and allows for adjustable crushing capacity, ensuring effective processing of waste materials by directing them centrally for optimal crushing and easy collection of chippings.

Implementation Method 1

The crushing and grinding assembly consists of at least two counter-driven screw rotors. Each of the screw rotors is provided with at least two screw blades, with both the first screw rotor and the second screw rotor having at least one pair of screw blades, which are arranged symmetrically to each other to the centre of the screw rotor.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectScrew mechanism: Screw

Implementation Method 2

This design enhances separation efficiency, prevents material overload, and allows for adjustable crushing capacity, ensuring effective processing of waste materials by directing them centrally for optimal crushing and easy collection of chippings.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical compression: Compression

Implementation Method 3

One of the screw blades of one screw rotor then forms a right-hand thread and the other of the screw blades forms a left-hand thread. The left-hand screw blade on the second screw rotor is mirrored to the right-hand screw blade on the first screw rotor, and the right-hand screw blade on the second screw rotor is subsequently mirrored to the left-hand screw blade on the first screw rotor.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectShear stress: Shear Stress

Data Source

PatentEP3705183B1Crusher for grinding and crushing materials
Publication Date: 2023.05.03 BRIKLIS SPOL
  • EP3705183B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3705183B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3705183B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The crusher (1) for grinding and crushing materials, especially residual and waste material resulting from metal working, consists of a frame (2) with a hopper (3), at least one drive unit and a crushing and grinding assembly (4). The crushing and grinding assembly (4) comprises at least two counter-driven screw rotors (5, 5'), wherein each of the screw rotors (5, 5') is provided with at least two screw blades (6, 6'). There is at least one pair of screw blades (6, 6') on both the first screw rotor (5) and the second screw rotor (5'), which are arranged symmetrically to each other to the centre of the screw rotor (5, 5'), with one of the screw blades (6, 6') forming a right-hand thread and the other of the screw blades (6, 6') forming a left-hand thread. The left-hand screw blade (6') on the second screw rotor (5') is assigned to the right-hand screw blade (6) on the first screw rotor (5) and the right-hand screw blade (6) on the second screw rotor (5') is assigned to the left-hand screw blade (6') on the first screw rotor (5). The outer edges of the screw blades (6, 6') on the first screw rotor (5) and the second screw rotor (5') skew to each other when the screw rotors (5, 5') are rotated, with an overlap on the projection in the horizontal plane. Recesses (7) corresponding to the shape of the separation bars (8) mounted on the surface of the screw rotors (5, 5') parallel to the axis of their rotation are formed on the screw blades (6, 6'). Separation bars (8) are positioned such that when rotating the screw rotors (5, 5'), the separation bars (8) on the first screw rotor (5) are associated with the recesses (7) of the screw blades (6, 6') on the second screw rotor (5') and the separation bars (8) on the second screw rotor (5') are associated with the recesses (7) of the screw blades (6, 6') on the first screw rotor (5).