Vibrating Tine Array for Wet Material Comminution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing extractive plant machinery struggles with wet materials, as they tend to block screens, reduce material flow, and leave smaller particles adhered to larger ones, leading to inefficient sieving and clogging issues.

Innovation Solution

A comminution apparatus featuring an array of tines that vibrate to break down material into smaller particles, with specific tine configurations such as teeth and caps to enhance material separation and prevent clogging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a conventional screen with smooth tines is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but wet material builds up on the tines and blocks the screen, reducing productivity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of tine structureVSAvoidmaterial flow through screen

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The tine structure transitions from smooth to textured/ribbed surfaces at specific locations. The ribs are added only to the upper surface of the tines where material accumulation occurs, while the lower surface and internal structure remain simple. This localized modification prevents material buildup without requiring complete redesign of the entire tine structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The screen is designed to vibrate during operation, creating dynamic motion that prevents material from adhering to and blocking the tines. The vibration causes material to bounce and move along the textured surface, preventing the bridging and clogging that occurs with static smooth screens.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If a conventional smooth screen is used, then the device complexity is low, but wet material adheres to the screen surface, reducing sieving precision

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetine surface configurationVSAvoidsieving accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The textured surface with ribs is applied only to the upper surface of the tines where material contact and adhesion occur. This localized treatment improves material release and sieving accuracy without requiring the entire tine structure to be complex, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while achieving the desired precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If a conventional screen is used, then the structure is simple, but large clumps of material slide over the screen without passing through, reducing productivity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescreen structureVSAvoidmaterial processing throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Vibration is applied to the screen to create dynamic motion that breaks up large clumps of material as they contact the tines. The vibrational forces prevent material from simply sliding over the screen and instead promote fragmentation and passage through the screen openings, significantly improving processing throughput.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The screen operates with intentional mechanical vibration that causes tines to oscillate. This vibration serves multiple functions: preventing material adhesion to smooth surfaces, breaking up clumps, and promoting material movement through the screen. The vibrational energy is transferred to the material, enhancing both productivity and separation efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

4Ease of manufacture

If smooth tines are used, then the manufacturing is simple, but material flow is blocked by wet material buildup, increasing loss of time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetine fabricationVSAvoidscreen blocking time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The ribbed texture is applied only to the upper surface of the tines where material accumulation occurs during operation. This localized modification prevents wet material from adhering and blocking the screen, reducing downtime for clearing blockages, while keeping the overall manufacturing process simple and cost-effective.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 apparatus effectively breaks down wet particulate materials into smaller particles, improving material flow and reducing clogging, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the sieving process.

Implementation Method 1

a motor secured to the apparatus, preferably the hopper, the operation of the motor causing the tines to vibrate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Implementation Method 2

the second end of an array is deployed higher than the first end of an adjacent array so that material can pass under gravity from one array to a neighbouring array

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 3

quite small particles can remain adhered to the surface of larger particle through, for example, surface tension by water present

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurface tension: Surface Tension

Data Source

PatentUS12240014B2Tine assembly

Publication Date: 2025.03.04 ECOFILL GRP LTD

AI summary

A comminution apparatus comprising a hopper to collect and guide material to be comminuted onto an array of tines, the tines having an elongate body having a first end and a second end and upper and lower surfaces, a tine being secured to a tine support at a first end, a motor secured to the apparatus, preferably the hopper, the operation of the motor causing the tines to vibrate.