Balling Machine Scraper With Variable-Depth Ridges for Uniform Balls
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing balling machines face inefficiencies in forming uniform and larger balls due to material build-up on the internal surface of the rotatable tube, leading to non-uniform size distribution and reduced structural integrity of the agglomerates.
Innovation Solution
A scraper with a scraping edge comprising a plurality of teeth and recesses, allowing circumferential ridges to form to different maximum heights, which act as baffles to control the residence time and distribution of material within the rotatable tube, promoting larger, rounder, and more uniform ball formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If material is allowed to build-up on the internal surface of the rotatable tube, then contact area and friction increase which helps lift material higher and encourages rolling motion, but material build-up becomes non-uniform leading to inconsistent ball formation and reduced productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The scraper blade is segmented into multiple sections along its length, with each section having a different depth of engagement with the tube wall. This segmentation allows different portions of the tube to have different amounts of material build-up, creating controlled zones that manage material flow and residence time to produce uniform ball formation while maintaining overall productivity
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the scraper blade are designed with varying engagement depths to create local variations in material build-up characteristics. This local quality approach ensures that specific zones within the tube provide optimal conditions for ball formation, while other zones control material flow, resulting in consistent uniformity across all produced balls
2Manufacturing precision
If material build-up is controlled to form circumferential ridges, then material residence time increases which helps form larger and rounder balls, but excessive build-up can cause material to slide rather than roll reducing balling quality
Solution Approach 1:
The scraper blade engagement depth is designed to be variable along its length, creating dynamic zones of material retention. This allows the system to adapt material residence time at different locations within the tube, ensuring optimal conditions for forming uniform balls while preventing excessive build-up that would cause sliding and reduce processing efficiency
3Adaptability or versatility
If uniform material build-up is maintained on the tube surface, then consistent friction is provided for ball formation, but this does not provide sufficient control over ball size distribution and residence time
Solution Approach 1:
The scraper blade is divided into multiple segments with varying engagement depths, allowing each segment to independently control material build-up characteristics in its corresponding zone. This segmentation provides versatile control over ball size distribution and residence time without requiring complex external control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The scraper design varies the engagement depth parameter along the length of the blade, creating different material build-up heights in different zones. This parameter change approach provides adaptable control over ball formation characteristics while maintaining a relatively simple scraper structure
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 solution enhances the formation of larger, rounder, and more uniform balls by increasing residence time and promoting even distribution, resulting in improved product quality and structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
The circumferential ridges of material may increase the contact area and friction between the material being balled and the internal surface of the tube
Implementation Method 2
Material is fed into the rotatable tube and the rotation of the rotatable tube lifts the material up the sides. When the material eventually falls back down the material rolls and tumbles
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The present invention relates to a balling machine (100) for balling metallurgical waste material. The balling machine (100) comprises a rotatable tube (102) arranged to receive material and to rotate so as to cause the material to form balls. The balling machine (100) has a scraper (138) arranged to control the build-up of the material on the inside surface of the rotatable tube (102). The scraper (138) comprises a plurality of teeth (146) and recesses (148) that permit the material to build-up into a plurality of circumferential ridges (150) on the inside surface of the rotatable tube (102). A first and a second of the recesses (148) have different depths so as to permit at least two of the circumferential ridges (150) to build-up to different maximum heights.