Star Screen Gap Base Curvature for Fiber Wrap Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing star sieves face issues with long-fiber, thread-like, or windable components in screening materials wrapping around the gaps between sieve stars, leading to increased energy requirements or damage during rotation.

Innovation Solution

A sieving device with a unique arrangement of sieve stars and a specially designed gap base that features a monotonic, arcuate rise on both sides of the axial middle section, preventing windable material accumulation and utilizing a meandering joint to prevent material from being pulled into the gap.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If star screens are arranged to rotate and mesh like a comb for screening material, then screening effectiveness is improved, but windable components (long fibers, threads, ropes) wrap around the gaps between star screens causing increased energy consumption and potential damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescreening effectivenessVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The gap base is designed with a curved, arcuate profile instead of a straight or flat configuration. The curvature radius R is specifically dimensioned relative to the axial distance D between star screens (R ≥ 0.1D), creating a rounded gap base that prevents windable material from accumulating and wrapping around sharp corners, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining screening effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the geometric parameters of the gap base, specifically introducing a curvature radius R that is dimensioned as a function of the axial distance D between star screens. This parameter change (R ≥ 0.1D) transforms the gap base shape to eliminate accumulation zones for windable material, resolving the energy consumption issue while preserving the comb-like meshing action for effective screening

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If star screens are arranged to rotate and mesh like a comb for screening material, then screening effectiveness is improved, but windable components wrap around the gaps between star screens causing potential damage to the star screens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescreening effectivenessVSAvoidstar screen durability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The curved gap base with radius R ≥ 0.1D eliminates sharp corners and abrupt transitions where windable material could accumulate and exert concentrated forces. The smooth, rounded profile distributes forces more evenly and prevents material entanglement that could lead to star screen damage, thereby improving reliability while maintaining screening performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Ease of manufacture

If the gap base is straight or flat between adjacent star screens, then manufacturing is simpler, but windable material accumulates on the sides of the gap base

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegap base fabricationVSAvoidmaterial accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The gap base is designed with a curved profile characterized by radius R ≥ 0.1D, which eliminates the sharp edges and flat surfaces that cause windable material to accumulate. The curved geometry creates a self-cleaning effect where material is prevented from adhering to the gap base sides, resolving the harmful accumulation issue while the curvature can be integrated into standard manufacturing processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentEP4349499A1Screening device for screening a material to be screened and star screen for a screening device
Publication Date: 2024.04.10 GUNTHER HLDG GMBH & CO
  • EP4349499A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4349499A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4349499A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Sieving device for sieving a feed material, such as municipal waste, wood chips, or soil-covered crops, the sieving device comprising: 1.1 a first sieve star (7; 37) rotatably arranged about an axis of rotation (2) and having several fingers (11) distributed around the axis of rotation (2), each of which projects from a base (12) of the first sieve star (7; 37) to a free peripheral end (13) from the axis of rotation (2), 1.2 a second sieve star (8; 38) rotatably arranged about the axis of rotation (2) adjacent to the first sieve star (7; 37) and having several fingers (11) distributed around the axis of rotation (2), each of which projects from a base (12) of the second sieve star (8; 38) to a free peripheral end (13) from the axis of rotation (2), 1.3 wherein between the fingers (11) of the first between the sieve star (7; 37) and the fingers (11) of the second sieve star (8; 38) an axial gap with a gap base (20) remains, 1.4 and a positive-locking coupling (25; 35) that couples the first sieve star (7; 37) and the second sieve star (8; 38) in a rotationally immovable manner, wherein 1.5 the first sieve star (7) and the second sieve star (8; 38) axially overlap each other at facing end faces in the region of the gap base (20), so that a joint (24) is obtained with joint sections that are axially offset from each other in a development of the gap base (20) in order to form the coupling (25), 1.6 or the sieve device comprises a separate coupling structure (30) that forms the gap base (20) over at least a predominant part of its axial length and is in a positive-locking engagement with the first sieve star (7; 37) at one end face and with the second sieve star (8; 38) at the other end face in order to form the coupling (35) to form.