Vibration Device Eccentric Masses Longitudinal Force

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vibration devices used in steelworks to convey metal charges to melting furnaces require heavy support structures to handle high loads, leading to increased mechanical stress and maintenance needs, while also being bulkier than necessary.

Innovation Solution

The vibration device employs multiple eccentric masses with orthogonal axes of rotation and strategically positioned mass barycenters to generate a resultant centrifugal force parallel to the longitudinal direction, reducing transverse forces and stress on support elements, and optimizing the thrust effect for efficient metal charge feeding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If heavy eccentric masses are used to increase vibrational effect and production capacity, then the ability to move high loads is improved, but the mechanical stress on support elements increases and device bulk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction capacityVSAvoidmechanical stress on support elements
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The vibration device is divided into multiple independent vibration mechanisms (at least two) disposed on opposite sides of the conveyor channel. Each mechanism has its own eccentric masses that can be optimized independently, allowing the vibrational effect to be distributed and managed more effectively, reducing the stress concentration on any single support element while maintaining high production capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The eccentric masses in each vibration mechanism are strategically positioned with specific mass barycenters disposed angularly offset to generate a resultant centrifugal force substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction. This local optimization of mass distribution ensures that the vibrational effect is concentrated where needed for metal charge feeding while minimizing transverse forces on support structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If heavy eccentric masses are used to increase vibrational effect, then the ability to move high loads is improved, but the device becomes bulkier

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction capacityVSAvoiddevice bulk
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes the spatial arrangement of eccentric masses by disposing mass barycenters at specific angular offsets rather than simply increasing mass size. This dimensional optimization in the angular domain allows achieving the required vibrational effect with more compact mass configurations, reducing the overall device bulk while maintaining high production capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Strength

If heavy bearing structures are used to support high loads, then the ability to support metal charge weight is improved, but the overall device weight and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload support capabilityVSAvoidbearing structure weight
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The bearing structure supports multiple independent vibration mechanisms distributed on opposite sides of the conveyor channel. This segmentation allows the load and vibrational effects to be distributed across multiple support points rather than concentrated on a single heavy bearing structure, reducing overall structure weight while maintaining load support capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The vibration mechanisms are disposed on opposite sides of the conveyor channel, creating balanced vibrational forces that counteract each other's transverse components. This anti-weight arrangement reduces the net load on the bearing structure, allowing for lighter support elements while maintaining the ability to handle high metal charge weights.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

4Force

If high centrifugal forces are generated by heavy eccentric masses, then the vibrational effect is improved, but the stress on support elements such as bearings increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibrational forceVSAvoidstress on support elements
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The eccentric masses are positioned with specific mass barycenters disposed angularly offset to generate a resultant centrifugal force substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction. This local optimization ensures that the vibrational force is directed effectively for metal charge feeding while minimizing transverse force components that would stress support elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The mass barycenters of the eccentric masses are disposed asymmetrically with angular offsets rather than in symmetric positions. This asymmetric arrangement creates a resultant force vector that is optimized for longitudinal vibration while canceling out transverse force components, reducing stress on support elements while maintaining high vibrational effect.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

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 allows for effective transfer of large metal loads with reduced stress on support elements, longer maintenance intervals, and a more compact design by ensuring that the conveying apparatus is subjected only to longitudinal forces, enhancing the efficiency and production capacity of the vibration device.

Implementation Method 1

The forces generated by the rotating masses of the vibration device must therefore not only be very high, that is, such as to induce an adequate horizontal and alternate force to the structural combination, but also such as to impart on the latter adequate accelerations

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

The bearing structure, the conveyor channel and the vibration device thus form a structural combination that has its own frequency of resonance. The longitudinal accelerations imparted to the structural combination by the vibration device cause a corresponding movement of the metal charge with respect to the conveyor channel which feeds it forward

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP2834174B1Vibration device for an apparatus for conveying a metal charge to a melting plant
Publication Date: 2016.03.09 DANIELI & C OFFICINE MECCANICHE SPA
  • EP2834174B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2834174B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2834174B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Vibration device for a conveying apparatus (21) to convey a metal charge in a longitudinal direction (X) comprising at least two vibration mechanisms (25, 26) each disposed on opposite sides of the conveying apparatus (21) so as to feed the metal charge. The vibration mechanisms (25, 26) comprise at least a first plurality of eccentric masses (31, 32, 33) having their mass barycenters (B) oriented in parallel directions to each other, and a second plurality of eccentric masses (34, 35) having their mass barycenters (B) disposed angularly offset with respect to the disposition of the barycenters of the first plurality of eccentric masses (31, 32, 33).