Two-Level Drying Tunnel for Vehicle Wheels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drying devices for vehicle wheels and other workpieces consume significant energy to heat the workpiece carriers, leading to a poor energy balance and increased operating costs, as the carriers must be heated to high temperatures for each drying cycle.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a two-level drying tunnel system with vertically arranged conveyors and a transfer device allows workpiece carriers to circulate between a preheating zone and a drying tunnel, reducing the need to reheat the carriers to operating temperature after each cycle, thus improving energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If workpiece carriers are conveyed continuously through the drying chamber with each new load, then the drying process can proceed without interruption, but the workpiece carriers must be reheated to operating temperature for each cycle, significantly increasing energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The drying chamber is segmented into two distinct levels: a preheating zone (first level) and a drying tunnel (second level). This segmentation allows workpiece carriers to be progressively heated - first in the preheating zone, then in the drying tunnel - rather than requiring full reheating of entire carriers with each new load. The segmentation enables energy-efficient staged heating while maintaining continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The preheating zone performs preliminary heating action on workpiece carriers before they enter the main drying tunnel. By pre-heating carriers to a lower temperature in the first zone, the energy required for subsequent drying in the second zone is reduced. This preliminary action prevents the need to reheat entire carriers from ambient temperature with each loading cycle.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the drying chamber is designed as a two-level structure with preheating zone and drying tunnel, then energy efficiency is improved by reducing carrier reheating requirements, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a conventional single-level linear drying chamber to a two-level vertical structure. The preheating zone is positioned at a first level while the drying tunnel is positioned at a second level, utilizing the vertical dimension. This dimensional change enables the complex staged heating process while maintaining a compact footprint and simplifying the overall spatial arrangement of heating zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The transfer device serving between the preheating zone and drying tunnel performs multiple functions: it transports workpiece carriers between zones, manages the circulation of carriers, and coordinates the timing of transfers. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated mechanisms for each function, thereby managing device complexity while achieving energy efficiency goals.
3Loss of energy
If workpiece carriers circulate in the drying chamber without leaving, then energy is conserved by maintaining carriers in the heated environment, but the access to the drying chamber must be designed to allow transfer operations
Solution Approach 1:
The access point is specifically positioned to provide access only to the preheating zone, not to the main drying tunnel. This local quality approach allows operators to load and unload workpiece carriers at the preheating zone access point while the drying tunnel remains sealed and maintains its high temperature. The access is localized to where temperature requirements are less stringent, minimizing heat loss from the critical drying zone.
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 configuration reduces energy consumption by minimizing the heating of workpiece carriers, enhancing the overall energy balance and lowering operating costs while maintaining efficient workpiece drying.
Implementation Method 1
a conveying system by means of which workpiece carriers loaded with workpieces can be conveyed through the drying chamber
Implementation Method 2
the temperature in the preheating zone can be lower than the temperature in the drying tunnel
Implementation Method 3
drying tunnel, wherein the temperature in the preheating zone can be lower than the temperature in the drying tunnel
Implementation Method 4
Temperatures of approximately 180°C prevail in at least one drying zone within the drying chamber
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device for drying work pieces, in particular vehicle wheels, comprising a dryer housing (14) which borders a dryer chamber (16) and has at least one access (34; 88, 98) to the dryer chamber (16). Work piece carriers (20) loaded with work pieces (12) can be conveyed through the dryer chamber (16) by a conveyance system (18). There is a transfer device (60), by means of which work pieces (12) to be dried can be transferred to a work piece carrier (20), which is located in the dryer chamber (16), and dried work pieces (12) can be removed by a work piece carrier (20) which is located in the dryer chamber (16). The work piece carriers (20) can thus be conveyed in circulation through the dryer chamber (16) without leaving said chamber. The invention further relates to a method for drying work pieces, in particular vehicle wheels, wherein the work piece carriers (20) are correspondingly conveyed through the dryer chamber (16) without leaving said chamber, wherein work pieces (12) to be dried are transferred to a work piece carrier (20) which is located in the dryer chamber (16) and dried work pieces (12) are removed by a work piece carrier (20) which is located in the dryer chamber (16).