Vibratory Hopper Throttle for Granular Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in reliably and consistently portioning granular materials, particularly in controlling the pressure of granular materials on doser mechanisms, which can lead to bridging and flow restrictions.
Innovation Solution
A doser apparatus is introduced, comprising a doser mechanism with a conveyor device and a throttle device. The throttle device includes a vibratory hopper that induces bridging of granular material, and a vibration device that breaks this bridging to control the flow rate and head pressure of the granular material, ensuring consistent supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If granular material is supplied to the doser mechanism without flow control, then the supply rate increases, but the head pressure becomes uncontrolled causing bridging and flow restrictions
Solution Approach 1:
The throttle device changes the flow parameters of granular material by controlling the rate at which material is supplied to the doser mechanism. This regulation of flow rate prevents excessive head pressure buildup while maintaining adequate supply, thereby preventing bridging and ensuring consistent material flow to the doser mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The throttle device acts as an intermediary component between the material source and the doser mechanism. It mediates the flow of granular material, controlling the supply rate to prevent both bridging (caused by excessive pressure) and starvation (caused by insufficient supply), thus ensuring reliable and consistent operation
2Productivity
If high head pressure is applied to increase material flow, then the flow rate increases, but bridging occurs restricting material flow
Solution Approach 1:
The throttle device optimizes the head pressure parameter by regulating material supply rate. It maintains pressure within an optimal range that is sufficient to prevent bridging but not excessive enough to cause flow restrictions, thereby ensuring consistent material flow without harmful effects
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the natural tendency of granular material to bridge under high pressure as a feedback mechanism. By monitoring flow conditions, the throttle device adjusts supply to maintain pressure levels that prevent bridging, converting the potential harmful effect into a useful indicator for flow rate control
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 doser apparatus achieves improved reliability and consistency in supplying controlled amounts of granular material by managing bridging and flow pressure, thereby reducing operational defects and ensuring uniformity of the discharged material.
Implementation Method 1
The vibration device may be configured to break the bridging of the granular material at the vibratory hopper bottom opening to induce a flow of the granular material from the vibratory hopper conduit to the doser reservoir through the vibratory hopper bottom opening, based on inducing vibration of the vibratory hopper
Data Source
AI summary
A doser apparatus includes a throttle device on a doser mechanism. The throttle device includes a vibratory hopper and a vibration device. The vibratory hopper is configured to hold a granular material within a vibratory hopper conduit that tapers towards a bottom opening and is configured to induce bridging of the granular material at the bottom opening. The vibration device is configured to break the bridging of the granular material at the bottom opening to induce flow of the granular material through the bottom opening to a doser reservoir of the doser mechanism, based on inducing vibration of the vibratory hopper. The throttle device is configured to control a head pressure of the granular material at a portion of a conveyor device of the doser mechanism extending into the doser reservoir based on operating the vibration device to adjustably control the flow of granular material through the bottom opening.