Shear Pin Cleaner Finger Assembly for Compactor Wheel Debris Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Compactor machines face issues with debris buildup between the teeth of their wheels, leading to loss of traction and poor compaction, and existing cleaner finger assemblies are complex, expensive, and prone to downtime due to stuck fasteners.
Innovation Solution
A shear pin supported cleaner finger assembly with a pivotally attached cleaner finger and a shear pin positioned at a reactive point, designed to pivot and shear when excessive force is applied, allowing the cleaner finger to disengage and drop, reducing downtime and maintenance costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If threaded fasteners are used to support the cleaner finger, then the cleaner finger can be securely mounted, but the fasteners can become stuck when the cleaner finger breaks away, causing excessive downtime and replacement cost
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is segmented into two distinct components: a reusable threaded fastener and a disposable shear pin. The shear pin acts as a sacrificial element that breaks away when the cleaner finger fuses, allowing the threaded fastener to remain intact and reusable, thereby eliminating downtime associated with fastener replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The shear pin is designed as a low-cost, disposable component that is intentionally made to fail under excessive load. When the cleaner finger becomes stuck and breaks away, the shear pin sacrifices itself while protecting the more expensive threaded fastener, reducing overall maintenance costs and downtime.
2Reliability
If a complex tooth design with arcuate surfaces is used for the cleaner finger, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing cost increases and operator accessibility during replacement becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaner finger is designed to dynamically pivot about the shear pin axis rather than being rigidly fixed. This pivot capability allows the cleaner finger to adapt its angle for effective cleaning while simplifying the attachment geometry, making it easier to manufacture and replace from below the mounting beam.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning action is achieved by allowing rotation in a third dimension (angular orientation about the shear pin axis) rather than relying solely on complex surface geometries. This dimensional freedom simplifies the tooth design while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.
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 shear pin supported cleaner finger assembly effectively reduces downtime and maintenance costs by allowing the cleaner finger to disengage and drop when excessive force is applied, maintaining traction and compaction efficiency while minimizing the risk of stuck fasteners.
Implementation Method 1
a shear pin positioned at a reactive point
Data Source
AI summary
A shear pin supported cleaner finger assembly includes a frame member, a support member attached to the frame member, the support member defining a pivot point and a reactive point. A cleaner finger is pivotally attached to the support member at the pivot point, and a shear pin is positioned at the reactive point.