Segmented Hopper Blasting Machine Abrasive Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional abrasive-recovery mechanisms in blasting machines require extensive renovation and increased machine size to accommodate larger workpieces, leading to higher costs and operational challenges when trying to lower the bottom wall surface of the blasting chamber without clogging the recovery pipe.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a multiple hopper system with a rectangular recovery pipe configuration, where each hopper communicates with both ends of the pipe, and directional control means are used to manage abrasive flow, reducing hopper size and pipe clogging, allowing for efficient recovery without increasing the machine's overall size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the bottom wall surface of the blasting chamber is lowered to accommodate larger workpieces, then the ease of operation is improved, but the recovery pipe becomes prone to clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The single large hopper is divided into multiple smaller hoppers (first hopper, second hopper, third hopper, fourth hopper) arranged in series. Each hopper has its own recovery pipe that connects to the next hopper, creating a segmented recovery system. This segmentation allows the bottom wall surface to be lowered for better workpiece access while distributing the abrasive load across multiple smaller pipes, preventing clogging in any single pipe.
2Productivity
If the hopper size is increased to recover more abrasive, then the productivity is improved, but the machine overall size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hopper system is segmented into multiple smaller hoppers connected in series, each with its own recovery pipe. This allows the total abrasive recovery capacity to be maintained (improving productivity) while each individual hopper remains compact, preventing the overall machine size from increasing significantly.
Solution Approach 2:
The hoppers are arranged in a series configuration along the vertical dimension, with each hopper positioned above the next. This vertical stacking allows multiple hoppers to be accommodated within a compact footprint, maintaining high abrasive recovery efficiency without proportionally increasing the machine's horizontal size.
3Device complexity
If a single large recovery pipe is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability decreases due to clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The recovery system is segmented into multiple smaller pipes instead of a single large pipe. Each hopper has its own dedicated recovery pipe that connects to the next hopper in the series. This segmentation increases the total surface area for abrasive discharge and distributes the flow, significantly reducing the likelihood of clogging in any single pipe while maintaining manageable system complexity.
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 configuration enables easier handling of large workpieces by lowering the bottom wall surface of the blasting chamber while maintaining efficient abrasive recovery, reducing wear on recovery pipes, and preventing clogging, thus lowering operational costs and improving machine efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a suction means (60) that creates a pressure difference for moving the abrasive
Implementation Method 2
a cyclone (50), which is an abrasive tank, provided in the dust collector (60)
Data Source
AI summary
A bottom wall surface of a blasting chamber of a blasting machine provided with hoppers for recovering an abrasive is formed at a lowest possible position. A cabinet 3 of a blasting machine 1 is compartmentalized at a predetermined position into an upper space and a lower space by mesh members (21, 22) that allow the abrasive to pass therethrough to form a blasting chamber 2 having a bottom wall surface 20 defined by the mesh members (21, 22). Hoppers 10 substantially shaped like an inverted quadrangular pyramid are disposed below the mesh members (21, 22) such that top portions of the hoppers 10 are opened toward the mesh members (21, 22) and that the bottom end of each of the hoppers 10 is made to communicate with suction means, such as a dust collector, through a recovery pipe 30.