Self-Calibrating Dosing Device for Bulk Material
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing metering devices for bulk materials with horizontally extending conveying means suffer from measurement errors due to fluctuating vertical forces, especially when handling poorly flowing bulk goods, which can falsify weight measurements.
Innovation Solution
A metering device with a freely floating suspension of the conveying means at the entry area and additional measuring devices to record and suppress vertical forces, combined with an agitator to ensure homogeneous flow, and electronic means to control the conveying speed and mass flow for accurate measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the conveying means is supported on self-aligning bearings with integrated force measuring transducers to enable continuous weight recording, then measurement capability is provided, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to falsification by fluctuating vertical forces from poorly flowing bulk materials
Solution Approach 1:
The dosing device is divided into two separate measurement systems: a first measuring device (load cell) that measures the weight of the conveying means with bulk material, and a second measuring device that measures vertical forces at the entry area. This segmentation allows the system to distinguish between useful weight information and disturbing vertical forces, enabling accurate dosing measurements while compensating for fluctuations caused by poorly flowing bulk materials
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary that processes signals from both measuring devices and calculates a corrected mass flow value. By using the vertical force measurements as a compensation factor, the control unit eliminates the falsifying effect of fluctuating forces on the weight measurement, thereby restoring measurement accuracy without requiring physical modification of the bulk material flow
2Device complexity
If the conveying means is mechanically coupled to the bulk material container to simplify structure, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to transmission of fluctuating forces from container movements
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the container support structure from the conveying means support structure. The conveying means is supported on self-aligning bearings with integrated force measuring transducers, independent of the container support. This structural segmentation prevents transmission of fluctuating forces from container movements to the measurement system while maintaining mechanical simplicity through the use of self-aligning bearings
3Reliability
If the conveying means is completely floating mounted to record only conveyor weight, then measurement interference from container movements is eliminated, but measurement reliability deteriorates due to falsification by vertical forces from vertically flowing bulk material
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit serves as an intermediary that combines measurements from the first measuring device (conveyor weight) and the second measuring device (vertical forces) to calculate a corrected mass flow. This computational intermediary eliminates the falsifying effect of vertical forces on the weight measurement while maintaining the simplicity of the floating mounting configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces mechanical coupling solutions with a computational approach. Instead of using complex mechanical decoupling mechanisms to prevent force transmission, the patent uses electronic sensors and control algorithms to measure and compensate for vertical forces, achieving accurate measurements through signal processing rather than mechanical isolation
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 suppresses impulsive vertical forces, enhances measurement accuracy, and maintains a constant mass flow by decoupling the conveyor from the container and using feedback to adjust the agitator and conveying speed, thereby improving the reliability of bulk material dosing.
Implementation Method 1
The first measuring device (27) is arranged and designed in such a way that it determines the weight load on the conveying means (20) from the bulk material
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a dosing device for bulk material having a dosing scale fastened to an outlet opening of a bulk material container. The dosing device comprises a motor-driven conveyor (20), extending substantially horizontally, which is designed to convey the bulk material from an entry region (24) to an exit region (25). The entry region (24) is arranged under the bulk material container (10, 11). The exit region (25) is supported on at least one first measurement device (27) which is arranged and designed to determine the weight load of the conveyor (20) by the bulk material. The conveyor (20) is attached in a free floating manner to the bulk material container (10) at the entry region (24) thereof.