Segmented Bulk Crush Test Cell for Pellet Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bulk crush strength testing devices face challenges in accurately measuring the crush strength of pellets due to artificial fracture caused by gaps or edges during the testing process and difficulty in removing the piston and sample from the sample holder after testing.
Innovation Solution
A bulk crush test cell design featuring a base holder, upper sample holder, and piston configuration that allows for easy assembly and disassembly without additional fixative elements, using a locating pin to prevent piston contact with the base wall and employing polymeric films for sample protection, enabling straightforward removal of the piston and sample without rotating or unscrewing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a conventional plug design with gaps at mating locations is used, then the device can be simpler in structure, but it causes artificial fracture of the solid material and gives false or inaccurate values
Solution Approach 1:
The plug is divided into an upper plug portion and a lower plug portion that can be separated. The upper plug portion is removable from the lower plug portion after testing, allowing the sample to be accessed without dealing with the intricate plug shape. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining measurement accuracy during testing while enabling easy sample removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The upper plug portion is extracted or removed from the lower plug portion after the crush strength test is completed. This extraction allows the sample to be accessed and removed from the sample holder without having to deal with the complex plug structure, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement accuracy and ease of sample removal.
2Measurement precision
If the piston is made with a long length and intricate shape to ensure proper function, then the crush strength measurement is more accurate, but the removal of piston and sample from sample holder becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The piston is segmented into an upper piston portion and a lower piston portion. The upper piston portion can be removed from the lower piston portion, allowing the sample to be accessed and removed from the sample holder. This segmentation maintains the functional integrity of the long piston during testing while enabling easy sample removal afterward.
Solution Approach 2:
The upper piston portion is extracted from the lower piston portion after testing. This extraction allows the sample to be removed from the sample holder without having to extract the entire long piston, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement accuracy and ease of operation.
3Reliability
If additional fixative elements are used to secure the assembly during testing, then the measurement reliability is improved, but the assembly and disassembly process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The upper plug portion and lower plug portion are merged into a single functional unit during testing, providing the necessary fixation and structural integrity. After testing, they can be easily separated. This merging provides measurement reliability while keeping the assembly simple enough for easy disassembly and sample removal.
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 the accuracy of crush strength measurements by minimizing artificial fracture and simplifies the removal process, reducing the complexity of assembly and disassembly, and allowing for quick and secure testing of various pellet materials.
Implementation Method 1
A desired pressure is applied at a selected rate for a certain period of time to obtain fine particles
Implementation Method 2
a locating pin configured to prevent the piston from contacting the base wall
Implementation Method 3
employing polymeric films for sample protection
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for use in testing the bulk crush characteristics of pellet materials. The apparatus constructed such that opening and closing can be conducted without complex binding and unbinding requirements. The apparatus may be used in combination with a universal testing machine fitted with compression test plates and a load cell capable of measuring force in a vertical direction.