Volumetric Mixer With Integrated Heating And Automated Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional mixers for substances like concrete and asphalt require pre-mixing, leading to waste and increased costs, and pose safety risks due to manual operation and exposure to external burners and large mixing blades.
Innovation Solution
A volumetric mixer with a holding section, conveyors, heating units, and a control unit that allows for precise measurement and mixing of materials, reducing waste and enhancing user safety by automating the mixing process and integrating heating units within the mixing section.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional mixers pre-mix materials for delivery, then materials can be transported to the desired area, but product waste increases and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The holding section stores materials in advance before they are needed, allowing on-demand mixing at the destination rather than pre-mixing for transport. This eliminates waste while maintaining delivery efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The mixing process is segmented into on-demand batches at the destination rather than one large pre-mixed batch. Each material is conveyed separately and mixed only when needed, reducing overall waste.
2Ease of operation
If users manually operate external burners and work close to mixing blades, then the mixing process can be controlled, but user safety is compromised due to exposure to burns and moving parts
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs mixing operations automatically through the control unit, which manages material conveyance and heating without requiring users to manually operate burners or positioning devices, thereby eliminating exposure to hazards while maintaining operational control.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating function is merged with the mixing section by integrating burners inside the mixing chamber, allowing automated controlled heating without user exposure. The control unit coordinates heating and mixing operations as a unified automated process.
3Use of energy by moving object
If heating units are positioned at angles to the mixing section, then heating efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating units are positioned at specific angles (45-60 degrees) to optimize heat distribution across different zones of the mixing section. This localized optimization of heating angle ensures efficient energy use throughout the mixing chamber.
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 volumetric mixer minimizes waste and costs by allowing on-demand mixing, reduces user exposure to hazards through automated operation and integrated heating, and maintains a lower center of gravity for stability.
Implementation Method 1
one or more heating units disposed in the mixing section
Implementation Method 2
The conveyors are operable to convey materials from the holding section to the mixing section
Implementation Method 3
a central unit with mixing arms, operable to mix the delivered materials
Implementation Method 4
The part of the mixing arms contacting the base of the mixing section may be set at an angle between parallel and perpendicular to the mixing section base. The angle is such that materials are scraped from the mixing section base
Data Source
AI summary
A volumetric mixer is provided including a holding section adapted to store one or more materials simultaneously, one or more conveyors disposed in the holding section, a mixing section, one or more heating units disposed in the mixing section, and a control unit. The conveyors are operable to convey materials from the holding section to the mixing section and the one or more conveyors are operable to be individually controlled by the control unit to deliver a pre-determined amount of each material from the holding section to the mixing section.