Vibratory Conveyor Retaining Weir Geometry for Homogeneous Dwell Time
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vibratory conveyors for bulk material face challenges in achieving homogeneous dwell times and preventing lump formation and blockages due to insufficient dwell time and inhomogeneous treatment or conditioning during transport, which affects the quality of the bulk material.
Innovation Solution
The design of retaining weirs with a rear wall inclined in an obliquely descending manner and a front wall angled to promote surmounting, combined with a scooping effect, ensures homogeneous dwell times and prevents compaction, allowing for extended dwell times of up to 30 minutes and effective treatment or conditioning of the bulk material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If retaining weirs are installed to increase dwell time for treatment or conditioning, then the dwell time is extended, but the dwell time becomes inhomogeneous and lump formation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the retaining weir, specifically inclining the rear wall at an angle between 10° and 45° relative to the vertical. This parameter modification transforms the weir from a vertical barrier into a sloped structure that guides material flow, achieving both extended and homogenized dwell times while preventing lump formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces asymmetry by inclining only the rear wall of the retaining weir while keeping the front wall vertical or slightly inclined. This asymmetric design creates a controlled flow path where material smoothly transitions over the weir, preventing the inhomogeneous dwell times and lump formation that occur with symmetric vertical weirs.
2Duration of action of moving object
If conventional retaining weirs are used to decelerate bulk material, then dwell time increases, but compaction areas and dead zones form affecting material quality
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the geometric parameters of the retaining weir - specifically the rear wall inclination angle between 10° and 45° - the patent eliminates compaction areas and dead zones. The sloped rear wall creates a continuous flow path that prevents material from stagnating, thereby extending dwell time without creating harmful compaction zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of material piling up at the weir into a beneficial controlled flow. The inclined rear wall transforms what would be a stagnation point into a flow-guiding surface, where material naturally slides down the incline, ensuring continuous movement and preventing dead zones while maintaining extended dwell time.
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 achieves a homogeneous dwell time spectrum for bulk material particles, preventing lump formation and blockages, and enables efficient treatment or conditioning processes by ensuring all particles surmount the retaining weir, promoting a uniform quality of the bulk material.
Implementation Method 1
at least one vibration generator functionally connected to the conveying trough or the conveying tube and configured for generating a directed vibratory excitation in order to transport the bulk material in longitudinal direction
Implementation Method 2
the directed vibratory excitation has directional components in the longitudinal direction of the conveying trough or the conveying tube and in vertical direction opposite to the direction of gravity, and the individual particles of the bulk material are accelerated in accordance with the angle of throw in order to subsequently drop down
Data Source
AI summary
A vibratory conveyor for bulk material is provided having a conveying trough or tube for bulk material and a vibration generator connected thereto for generating a directed vibratory excitation to transport the bulk material longitudinally. The directed vibratory excitation has directional components in the longitudinal direction and in a vertical direction opposite gravity. The conveyor further includes at least one retaining weir arranged in the trough or tube for decelerating the bulk material in the longitudinal direction through the trough or tube. The retaining weir has a rear wall in a transport direction of the bulk material and a front wall opposite the transport direction. The rear wall is at least sectionally inclined in an obliquely descending manner from an apex of the retaining weir toward the bottom of the trough or tube. The length of the front wall is smaller than the length of the rear wall.