3-Axis Sewer Milling Head for Variable Inlet Rehabilitation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing milling systems for sewer rehabilitation are cumbersome and require manual control, making them difficult to handle and operate safely, especially when dealing with varying sewer inlet sizes and high restoring forces during milling processes.
Innovation Solution
A milling system with a motor unit and a milling head that allows the milling tool to move along three independent axes (X, Y, Z), enabling precise positioning and operation without the need to reposition the carriage, along with a control device that adjusts the milling tool's movement based on sensor feedback to manage forces and maintain efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single large milling tool is used to open closed side inlets, then the milling operation can be completed in a single pass, but the device becomes large and heavy requiring appropriately dimensioned carriages
Solution Approach 1:
The milling device is segmented into a carriage and a separable milling tool assembly. The milling tool can be detached and replaced independently from the carriage, allowing the use of smaller, lighter tools for different applications while maintaining the structural integrity of the carriage system.
Solution Approach 2:
The milling tool is designed to be dynamically replaceable on the carriage. The tool can be quickly exchanged between different milling operations, allowing the system to adapt to varying task requirements without being constrained by a single large tool configuration.
2Manufacturing precision
If different milling tools are used for side inlets of different diameters, then each inlet can be properly opened, but the device must be removed and reconfigured for each inlet type
Solution Approach 1:
The carriage is designed as a universal platform that can accommodate multiple types of milling tools with different diameters and configurations. This multi-functional design allows the same carriage to handle various side inlet sizes without requiring structural modifications or removal from the channel.
Solution Approach 2:
The milling tool assembly incorporates quick-change mechanisms that enable dynamic replacement of tools during operations. This allows operators to switch between different tool sizes rapidly without removing the entire device from the channel, significantly reducing reconfiguration time.
3Force
If very high restoring forces are accommodated by large and heavy carriages, then the milling device can handle high forces, but the device becomes more cumbersome and difficult to handle
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the force-bearing carriage structure from the milling tool assembly. The carriage is designed to handle high restoring forces through its structural design, while the milling tool can be lighter and more maneuverable since it doesn't need to bear the full load independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a motor unit with gear mechanism that provides mechanical advantage, replacing the need for an overly dimensioned carriage. The motorized drive system with gearing allows a smaller, more manageable carriage to generate and transmit the necessary forces for milling operations.
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(b)
Figure 2(a)~2(b)
Figure 3(a)~3(b)
AI summary
A milling system (1) is provided for the rehabilitation of a sewer, in particular a sewer, comprising - a motor unit (10) and - a milling head (20) on which a milling tool (21) is arranged, wherein the milling head (20) is coupled to the motor unit (10) and the milling tool (21) is movable along at least one movement axis, and the motor unit (10) is coupled to the milling head (20) in such a way that it can be used to move the milling tool (21) along the at least one movement axis.