Suction Excavator Flow Reversal for Hose Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing suction excavators face issues with freezing components and reduced conveying capacity due to fast-flowing suction air streams at low temperatures, and require costly and cumbersome recirculation channels for heating, which increase costs and handling difficulties.
Innovation Solution
A suction excavator design with a volume-controllable secondary air opening and recirculation channel that allows ambient air to be drawn in and heated, generating positive pressure to reverse flow direction and heat the suction hose, eliminating the need for a separate heating channel and reducing cross-sectional requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a fast-flowing suction air stream is used to receive suction material, then the conveying capacity is improved, but the components and suction hose freeze at low temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful cold suction air stream into a beneficial heating mechanism by recirculating it through the exhaust air channel. The fast-flowing air that causes freezing is redirected to heat the suction hose and separator, transforming the harmful cold air into a useful heating source that prevents freezing while maintaining conveying capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The exhaust air channel serves as an intermediary mechanism that mediates between the cold suction air stream and the components needing heating. By routing the air through this channel and allowing it to heat the suction hose and separator indirectly, the system avoids direct exposure of components to extreme cold while still utilizing the air flow's kinetic energy.
2Temperature
If a separate recirculation channel is led to the suction opening for heating, then the suction material can be heated, but the costs and handling difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the recirculation channel with the existing exhaust air channel, eliminating the need for a separate heating channel. The exhaust air channel serves dual purposes: emitting cleaned air to the surroundings and serving as the recirculation path for heating the suction material. This integration reduces device complexity and costs while maintaining the heating function.
Solution Approach 2:
The exhaust air channel is given multiple functions: it serves as both the emission path for cleaned air and the recirculation channel for heating the suction hose and separator. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional dedicated heating channels, reducing system complexity while achieving the heating objective.
3Temperature
If the recirculation channel has a large cross section to convey heated air to the suction opening, then the heating capacity is improved, but the handling of the suction hose becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the heating function from the suction hose system by routing heated air through the exhaust air channel to heat the suction hose externally. This separates the heating function from the suction material conveyance function, allowing the suction hose to maintain its original dimensions and flexibility for easy handling while still receiving adequate heating through the external recirculation path.
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
Prevents freezing in the suction hose and components, maintains conveying capacity, and reduces costs by utilizing ambient air for heating, ensuring efficient operation at low temperatures without additional heating elements.
Implementation Method 1
a fast-flowing suction air stream is drawn through the suction hose and entrains the suction material in the vicinity of the suction opening
Implementation Method 2
the flow velocity is drastically reduced due to the cross-sectional expansion in the flow path, in order to deposit and collect the coarse, heavy components of the suction material from the air stream
Implementation Method 3
a section of the recirculation channel extends, separately from the suction hose, to the vicinity of the suction opening in order to convey heated exhaust air to that location
Data Source
AI summary
A suction excavator includes a suction hose with a suction opening for pneumatically receiving solid or liquid suction material using a fast-flowing air stream. The suction excavator has a separator for separating the suction material from the air stream, a filter unit for cleaning the air stream, a fan unit for generating the air stream, and a recirculation channel that is connected to the pressure side of the fan unit via a volume-controllable recirculation opening. A volume-controllable secondary air opening allows secondary air from the surroundings to be supplied to the suction side of the fan unit, downstream from the filter unit in the flow direction. The recirculation channel is fluidically coupleable to the suction hose to generate a positive pressure in the recirculation channel to blow out recirculation air through the suction hose.