Temporary Shaft Support System for Food Processing Equipment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food processing equipment requires substantial time and effort to service or replace bearings, bushings, and seals due to their non-serviceable nature, and temporary shaft supports built inside the equipment can damage surfaces and occupy valuable space, making maintenance difficult for technicians.
Innovation Solution
A temporary shaft support system that suspends the shaft from above using a hook and threaded actuator, allowing for easy access and minimizing floor space occupation, with a slip surface to facilitate rotation and reduce friction during maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If temporary shaft supports are built inside the equipment to support shafts from below, then shaft support function is achieved, but equipment inner surfaces may be scratched or damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional support approach by suspending the shaft from above rather than supporting it from below. The shaft support system includes a support mechanism attached to the top wall that suspends the shaft upwardly, eliminating contact between support structures and the equipment's inner surfaces, thus preventing scratches and damage while maintaining shaft support functionality
2Reliability
If temporary shaft supports are built inside the equipment, then shaft support function is achieved, but large footprint occupies valuable space on bottom walls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional support approach by suspending the shaft from above rather than supporting it from below. The shaft support system includes a support mechanism attached to the top wall that suspends the shaft upwardly, eliminating the need for large footprint structures on the bottom wall, thus preserving valuable floor space while maintaining shaft support functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions the support structure from a horizontal plane (bottom wall support) to a vertical dimension (top wall suspension). By attaching the support mechanism to the top wall and suspending the shaft downwardly, the system utilizes the vertical space within the vat rather than occupying horizontal floor space, effectively resolving the space occupation issue
3Reliability
If temporary shaft supports are built inside the equipment, then shaft support function is achieved, but maneuvering space for technicians is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional support approach by suspending the shaft from above rather than supporting it from below. This inversion creates open floor space below the shaft that was previously occupied by support structures, thereby providing substantial maneuvering room for technicians to access and service the shaft and its components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the shaft support function into separate components: a support mechanism attached to the top wall, suspension elements that hold the shaft, and clearance space below. This segmentation allows technicians to freely access the bottom area for maintenance activities while the support function is performed by the upper-mounted mechanism
4Reliability
If shafts are supported from below, then shaft support function is achieved, but substantial time and effort is required for servicing bearings and seals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional support approach by suspending the shaft from above rather than supporting it from below. This configuration, combined with the removable nature of the support system, allows technicians to easily lower the shaft for servicing and quickly re-suspend it, significantly reducing maintenance time and effort compared to fixed bottom-support structures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic shaft support system where the support mechanism can be adjusted and repositioned. The support system includes movable components that allow the shaft to be lowered, removed, or repositioned easily, enabling quick access to bearings and seals for maintenance activities, thereby reducing downtime
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
This solution enables efficient servicing of rotating assemblies by providing ample workspace and preventing damage to equipment surfaces, reducing maintenance time and costs while maintaining equipment integrity.
Implementation Method 1
The slip surface may have a lower coefficient of friction than the bottom surface of the central hub of the handle and/or other portions of the base
Implementation Method 2
The threaded actuator may include a threaded segment of the rod and may also include a handle that can rotate and that engages the threaded segment of the rod so that rotation of the handle forces the rod and holder to travel upwardly or downwardly
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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AI summary
A temporary shaft support system (100) is provided that can be used with an enclosure (7) such as food processing equipment. The system may include a holder (110) for engaging a shaft (45) to be supported, and a lift (150) that is supported from the food processing equipment at a position that is higher than the shaft to allow the shaft to be suspended and supported without occupying floor space of the food processing equipment. The lift may be supported by a top wall (10) of the food processing equipment or may be supported by a drive mount (52) that attaches a shaft-rotating drive to the food processing equipment.