Separation Device With Self-Cleaning Worm Shaft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for separating feed material, such as those with rotating screw shafts, face issues with contamination and clogging due to elongated or adhesive materials, leading to malfunctions and increased maintenance needs.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an additional rotating element below the deck, designed as a worm shaft, which acts as a cleaning element to prevent winding and adhesion of feed material on the main rotating elements, thereby facilitating automatic self-cleaning and reducing downtime.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If rotating screw shafts are used for separating feed material, then separation into different fractions is achieved, but the screw shafts become dirty and clogged with elongated or adhesive materials
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning screw shaft is designed to automatically clean the main screw shafts during operation. The cleaning element integrated into the cleaning screw shaft performs the cleaning function without requiring external intervention or stopping the separation process, enabling the system to self-maintain and avoid clogging-related failures.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning screw shaft acts as an intermediary element between the main screw shafts and the cleaning function. It introduces a dedicated cleaning mechanism that mediates the interaction between moving material and screw shaft surfaces, preventing direct adhesion and winding of elongated materials on the main shafts.
2Productivity
If the deck is designed with multiple rotating screw shafts, then material separation is improved, but manual cleaning requirements increase and downtime increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning screw shaft enables automatic self-cleaning of the deck during operation. The cleaning elements continuously remove adhering material from the screw shafts without requiring manual intervention or stopping the separation process, eliminating maintenance downtime and maintaining continuous operational productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning function operates continuously alongside the separation process. The cleaning screw shaft rotates simultaneously with the main screw shafts, ensuring that cleaning action is continuously applied to prevent clogging rather than being applied intermittently during maintenance stops.
3Productivity
If elongated feed material is processed, then separation into fractions is achieved, but winding and adhesion to screw shafts occurs causing blockages
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning elements on the cleaning screw shaft serve as intermediary structures between the elongated material and the main screw shafts. These cleaning elements intercept and remove winding material before it can adhere to the screw shaft surfaces, preventing blockages while maintaining the separation capability for elongated materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning action is applied preliminarily to prevent adhesion and winding before they can cause blockages. By continuously removing material from the screw shaft surfaces during operation, the system preemptively counteracts the harmful effects of elongated material adhesion rather than reacting after blockages occur.
Data Source
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AI summary
A device (1) for separating feedstock (2) comprises a plurality of rotational elements (3), in particular in the form of worm shafts, the rotational elements (3) forming a deck (4). At least one additional rotational element (5), in particular in the form of a worm shaft, is arranged below the rotational elements (3) forming the deck (4), and said additional rotational element (5) is provided for cleaning an interstice (6) between two immediately adjacent rotational elements (3) of the deck (4).