Vibratory Auger Apparatus for Silo Bridge Disaggregation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for breaking up bridged particulate matter in silos, such as sugar silos, pose significant risks of injury, death, and contamination due to manual intervention and mechanical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A vibratory and auger apparatus comprising a housing with a controlled vibrating motor and a rotational motor, an auger, and legs that extend from the housing to penetrate and disaggregate the particulate matter, utilizing vibrational energy and rotational motion to break up clumps without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual intervention is used to break up bridged particulate matter, then the bridging can be broken, but the risk of injury and death increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical intervention with an automated apparatus that uses vibrational energy and rotational motion to break up bridged particulate matter. The system employs a vibratory motor to generate vibrations and a rotational motor to rotate an auger, eliminating the need for human workers to manually break bridges while maintaining effective bridging breakdown capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus enables the system to break up bridged particulate matter autonomously without human intervention. The vibratory and rotational mechanisms work together to automatically penetrate and disaggregate bridges, allowing the system to serve itself by eliminating the need for manual safety-risk operations.
2Ease of operation
If manual intervention is used to break up bridged particulate matter, then the bridging can be broken, but contamination of the particulate material is likely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical intervention with an automated apparatus that uses vibrational energy and rotational motion to break up bridged particulate matter. The system employs a vibratory motor to generate vibrations and a rotational motor to rotate an auger, eliminating the need for human workers to manually break bridges while maintaining effective bridging breakdown capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus uses an intermediary mechanism (the vibratory and rotational system) to break up bridges without direct human contact with the particulate matter. The vibratory motor and rotational auger act as intermediaries that penetrate and disaggregate bridges while minimizing contamination risk compared to manual intervention.
3Ease of operation
If conventional mechanical procedures are used to break up bridges, then bridging can be broken, but production must be reduced or shut down
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus enables continuous operation by automatically breaking up bridges without requiring production shutdowns. The vibratory and rotational mechanisms can operate continuously to maintain flowability of particulate matter, eliminating the need to reduce or shut down production for bridge-breaking operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical intervention with an automated apparatus that uses vibrational energy and rotational motion to break up bridged particulate matter. The system employs a vibratory motor to generate vibrations and a rotational motor to rotate an auger, eliminating the need for human workers to manually break bridges while maintaining effective bridging breakdown capability.
4Ease of operation
If a person is lowered into the silo to break down aggregated material, then the bridge can be broken, but the risk of injury or death increases due to collapsing material
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical intervention with an automated apparatus that uses vibrational energy and rotational motion to break up bridged particulate matter. The system employs a vibratory motor to generate vibrations and a rotational motor to rotate an auger, eliminating the need for human workers to manually break bridges while maintaining effective bridging breakdown capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus enables the system to break up bridged particulate matter autonomously without human intervention. The vibratory and rotational mechanisms work together to automatically penetrate and disaggregate bridges, allowing the system to serve itself by eliminating the need for manual safety-risk operations.
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 penetrates and breaks up bridged particulate matter, reducing the risk of injury and contamination while ensuring continuous operation by loosening and disaggregating the material, allowing for safe and efficient flow.
Implementation Method 1
a controlled vibrating motor and a rotational motor... utilizing vibrational energy and rotational motion to break up clumps
Implementation Method 2
a rotational motor... an auger... that rotates relative to the housing... to penetrate and disaggregate the particulate matter
Data Source
AI summary
A method and means for disaggregating aggregated particulate. A housing contains a rotational motor and a vibrating motor also has an auger drivingly linked to the rotational motor. Legs extend from the housing in the same direction as the auger and the device rests upon the aggregated particulate. Upon driving the rotational motor, the auger bores through the aggregated particulate, thereby disaggregating particulate. The vibrating motor is also driven to vibrate and further disaggregate the particulate. A plate device with a vibrating motor attached is also used to disaggregate the particulate, such as by teeth extending from the bottom of the plate that are driven into the aggregate by the weight of the plate when vibrated.