Wash Press Rotor Structure for Screen Clearing and Maintenance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current washer/compactor technologies face issues with roping of non-soluble materials, inadequate separation of organics from screenings, difficult and costly maintenance, and restricted access to internal components, leading to inefficiencies and increased operational costs.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a rotor with paddles between helical flights to disrupt and transport screenings, allows for vertical removal of the helical screw, and features a bolted screen trough for easy replacement, enhancing cleaning efficiency and reducing maintenance complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a coil-shaped brush is used on the rotor to sweep the screen, then the screen openings are kept clear, but non-soluble materials catch in the brush and form ropes that impede operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the coil-shaped brush from the rotor assembly entirely, extracting the problematic component that caused non-soluble materials to catch and form ropes. The screen clearing function is achieved through alternative means that do not involve bristles or brush elements that can entangle materials.
2Reliability
If water is sprayed onto screenings to separate organics, then some cleaning is achieved, but the spray pattern and pressure are insufficient to effectively separate organics from non-biodegradable elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a movable rotor with adjustable pitch that dynamically disturbs the screening piles, exposing more surface area to the wash water spray. This dynamic action enhances the effectiveness of the spray without requiring increased water pressure or energy input.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotor acts as an intermediary mechanism between the wash water spray and the screenings. By mechanically disturbing the piles and redistributing materials, the rotor mediates the washing process to improve organics separation efficiency.
3Reliability
If the rotor is fully encased in the tank with fixed end flanges, then proper sealing and structural support are provided, but access to internal components for maintenance requires large space and moving the entire wash press
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the tank structure into removable sections, allowing the end flange and associated components to be separated from the main tank body. This segmentation enables maintenance personnel to access internal components like the rotor and screen without moving the entire wash press, while maintaining proper sealing when assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables vertical removal of the rotor assembly by designing the end flange and support structures to accommodate upward extraction. This dimensional change in maintenance access (from horizontal to vertical) simplifies the removal process and reduces the space required for maintenance operations.
4Strength
If the screen trough is welded into the tank, then structural integrity is maintained, but replacement of the screen requires metal fabricator tools and skills
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the screen trough from the tank structure by using removable fastening mechanisms instead of permanent welding. This allows the screen trough to be replaced independently without requiring metal fabricator skills or specialized welding equipment, while maintaining structural integrity through properly designed connection points.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a wash press that separates liquids and solids from a waste stream. The wash press includes a tank having a semi-cylindrical shape. The tank has an inlet at a top of the tank for receiving a waste stream, a screen disposed in a portion of a bottom of the tank to permit liquid to pass therethrough, and an outlet for permitting solid materials separated from the liquid to pass therethrough. A rotor extends through the tank for transporting and dewatering the waste material entering the tank. The rotor includes a plurality of helical flights interconnected by paddle members to permit agitating the waste material. The wash press also includes a removable cover that enables the rotor to be lifted vertically, and a removably attached screen to facilitate replacement/repair of the same.