Slurry Feed Apparatus with Movable Wall and Bucket Elevator
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for feeding slurry from hydro-excavation processes to elevated dewatering screens face challenges due to the wet nature of the slurry, which prevents the use of traditional belt conveyors, and the abrasive nature of the solids, which causes rapid wear in screw conveyors.
Innovation Solution
A feed apparatus comprising a reception hopper with a movable wall that urges slurry towards the loading zone of a bucket elevator, equipped with a seal assembly and guide rails to ensure efficient transfer and minimize wear, and a bucket elevator that conveys slurry to an elevated location for treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a traditional belt conveyor is used to transfer slurry to the loading zone, then the transfer can be simple and low-cost, but the wet nature of the slurry causes the belt to become slippery and ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a screw conveyor as an intermediary device between the reception hopper and the bucket elevator loading zone. The screw conveyor's auger flights create a self-cleaning action that prevents slurry from adhering to the conveyor surface, effectively mediating the transfer of wet slurry without the stickiness problems that plague traditional belt conveyors.
2Reliability
If a screw conveyor is used to feed material from the reception hopper to the loading zone, then the wet slurry can be effectively conveyed, but the abrasive nature of the solids causes rapid wear of the conveyor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a self-cleaning screw conveyor design where the auger flights are positioned to create a scraping action against the conveyor surface. This dynamic self-cleaning mechanism prevents abrasive solids from settling and causing wear, while the continuous motion of the screw conveyor maintains slurry suspension and transfer effectiveness.
3Ease of operation
If the reception hopper is positioned at a low level for gravity discharge, then slurry can be easily discharged from the hydrovac tanker, but the slurry cannot be delivered to the elevated dewatering screen under gravity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the slurry transport system into distinct segments: a reception hopper for receiving slurry at low level, a screw conveyor for horizontal transfer to the loading zone, and a bucket elevator for vertical elevation to the dewatering screen. This segmentation allows each component to optimize for its specific function while working together to overcome the elevation challenge.
4Device complexity
If solid material is allowed to settle in the reception hopper, then the hopper can be simplified in design, but the material falls away from the loading zone of the bucket elevator reducing feed efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a continuous circulation system where the screw conveyor not only feeds material to the loading zone but also continuously stirs and re-suspends solids in the reception hopper. This continuous action prevents settling and ensures a steady supply of slurry to the bucket elevator, maintaining high feed efficiency without requiring complex hopper designs.
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 apparatus effectively transfers slurry to the elevated bucket elevator, ensuring all material is conveyed and treated, reducing wear and improving operational efficiency by using a movable wall and seal assembly to manage the slurry's flow and abrasive solids.
Implementation Method 1
the trough including a movable wall movable towards the first end of the trough to urge slurry towards the loading zone of the bucket elevator
Implementation Method 2
a bucket elevator for conveying the slurry from a loading zone in communication with the reception hopper to a discharge zone at an elevated location
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus is provided for feeding slurry to a recycling or slurry treatment process at an elevated location. The apparatus includes a reception hopper for receiving the slurry from a transport vehicle, and a bucket elevator for conveying the slurry from a loading zone, in communication with the reception hopper, to a discharge zone at an elevated location. The reception hopper includes a trough having parallel side walls and a bottom wall. The loading zone of the bucket elevator communicates with a first end of the trough, the trough including a movable wall extending perpendicular to the side walls of the reception hopper and being movable towards the first end of the trough to urge slurry towards the loading zone of the bucket elevator.