Variable-Pressure Wiper Ring for Viscous Material Conveying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for conveying viscous materials face challenges with high frictional forces when inserting or removing the follower plate from containers, requiring precise alignment and significant effort, which limits manageability and increases installation space and manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A device with a wiper ring that can vary its contact pressure to achieve sealing when filled and reduce friction when empty, allowing the follower plate to be inserted or removed with less effort, and using a single-sided lifting device, along with a transport system and control device for improved accessibility and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the wiper ring maintains constant contact force against the container wall, then sealing is ensured during material conveyance, but high frictional forces occur during insertion and removal of the follower plate
Solution Approach 1:
The contact force of the wiper ring is made variable through a control device that can adjust the force applied by the follower plate against the container wall. During material conveyance, the wiper ring maintains high contact force to ensure sealing. During insertion and removal phases, the control device reduces the contact force to minimize frictional resistance, enabling easier handling without compromising sealing reliability during operation.
2Manufacturing precision
If a symmetric lifting device with crossbeam is used to support the follower plate, then precision and force for insertion are achieved, but device complexity and installation space increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting device is designed with asymmetric configuration where the follower plate is supported at only one end by a lifting device rather than by a symmetric crossbeam structure at both ends. This asymmetric support system, combined with the variable contact force control, achieves the necessary precision and force for insertion while significantly reducing structural complexity and installation space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The complex symmetric crossbeam structure is completely removed from the design. Instead, a simplified lifting device supports the follower plate at a single end, extracting only the essential lifting function while eliminating unnecessary structural elements that increased complexity and space requirements.
3Reliability
If the follower plate is inserted with high force to overcome friction, then sealing is ensured, but handling becomes difficult and requires more effort
Solution Approach 1:
The control device preemptively reduces the contact force of the wiper ring against the container wall during the insertion and removal phases, before the follower plate encounters the container wall. This preliminary reduction in contact force prevents high frictional forces from developing, making insertion and removal easier while ensuring that full sealing force is applied only when the follower plate is properly positioned and material conveyance begins.
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
Facilitates easier handling and reduces installation space by allowing the follower plate to be inserted and removed with reduced frictional forces, enabling single-sided lifting and improved accessibility, while ensuring safety and efficient material transfer.
Implementation Method 1
the wiper ring (28) has a radially outwardly projecting contact portion (34) for contacting an inner surface (36) of the container wall (18) facing the follower plate (20), wherein the contact portion (34) can be subjected to a variable contact force to press against the inner surface (36) of the container wall (18)
Implementation Method 2
The frictional force occurring between the follower plate (20) and the container (12) can also be reduced for inserting the follower plate (20) into the container (12) and for removing the follower plate (20) from the container (12) by reducing the contact force
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (10) for conveying viscous material from a cask-like container (12) which has a container bottom (14) and a circumferential container wall (18) extending from the container bottom (14) to a container top (16) and which is open towards the container top (16), with a follower plate (20) which has a material outlet (26) attached to a feed pump (40) and which serves to close the container (12), wherein the follower plate (20) has a wiper ring (28) extending in a circle about the circumference, wherein the wiper ring (28) has a radially outwardly protruding bearing portion (34) for bearing on an inner face (36) of the container wall (18) directed towards the follower plate (20), and wherein the bearing portion (34) can be subjected to a variable pressing force in order to press onto the inner face (36) of the container wall (18). According to the invention, provision is made that the follower plate (20) is mounted, by means of at least one vertically extending holding rod (58), on a horizontally extending crosspiece (52) which is mounted at or near a first end (54) on a lifting mechanism (50), for lifting and lowering the crosspiece (52), while its second end (56) is free.