Waste Separation Device Helical Transport Rib

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing waste separation devices lack a simple structure that enables controlled, forced transport of waste components and effective size reduction of larger fractions into smaller components for efficient sieving, particularly in a horizontal arrangement.

Innovation Solution

The device features a cylindrical sieve drum with a helical transport rib extending over its length, strategically arranged holes in a helical pattern, breakers for size reduction, and obstruction plates to prevent elongate components from passing through, along with overturners to prevent clumping, ensuring efficient separation of waste into large and small fractions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a horizontal arrangement of the drum is used, then the structure is simplified, but controlled forced transport of waste components through the drum is not guaranteed

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestructureVSAvoidcontrolled forced transport
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A transport rib is introduced as an intermediary element inside the drum to provide forced transport. The transport rib extends along the drum axis and has helical or angled surfaces that push waste components in the transport direction, ensuring controlled movement from feed opening to discharge opening without requiring complex external forcing mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The transport rib is designed with a helical or angled curved surface that conforms to the drum's rotational motion. This curved geometry allows the rib to effectively push waste components along the drum axis while accommodating the rotational movement, achieving forced transport in a horizontal arrangement through geometric design rather than complex mechanical forcing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Productivity

If larger waste components are present, then the separation capacity is reduced, but size reduction of larger fractions increases processing complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseparation capacityVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Breakers are positioned in the feed opening area to perform preliminary size reduction of large waste components before they enter the drum. These breakers mechanically fragment large pieces into smaller components that can pass through the sieve holes, ensuring the drum receives material suitable for effective separation without requiring complex internal processing mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The device segments the waste processing function into distinct zones: a pre-processing zone with breakers for size reduction, a separation zone with the drum and sieve holes for fractionation, and a discharge zone for sorted material. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently, maintaining high separation capacity while managing processing complexity through functional division.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If holes are arranged to maximize sieving, then separation efficiency increases, but elongate waste components may pass through incorrectly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseparation efficiencyVSAvoidseparation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sieve holes are designed with asymmetric dimensions where the width (in the radial direction) is smaller than the depth (in the axial direction). This asymmetric geometry allows circular or compact small components to pass through while blocking elongate components that would require more space to fit through, ensuring accurate separation based on component geometry rather than just size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The hole pattern and dimensions are optimized locally to match the specific separation requirements. By controlling the local geometry of holes (asymmetric width-to-depth ratio) and their distribution, the system achieves high separation efficiency for small components while maintaining reliability in rejecting elongate components, as each local area of the sieve is designed with appropriate characteristics for its function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 ensures effective sieving and separation of waste components, increasing the proportion of small components that can pass through the drum, enhancing the device's effectiveness and preventing clumping, which would otherwise disrupt the sieving process.

Implementation Method 1

at least one transport rib which is located on the inner surface of the drum and which urges, and thus transports, waste which is present in the drum in the transport direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectArchimedes screw: Archimedes Screw

Implementation Method 2

the breakers act to mechanically process the waste flow in that the more or less sharp front edges of the breakers will exert a considerable force on the passing waste components. These are thereby pulled apart and broken

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 3

a number of angularly equidistantly disposed obstruction plates which together cover the holes and which are supported via supports on the outer side of the drum by this drum

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical containment: Physical Containment

Implementation Method 4

which drum has a pattern of continuous holes through which only relatively small waste components can pass

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSieving: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP3533525B1Waste separation device
Publication Date: 2023.01.11 SENRO BV
  • EP3533525B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3533525B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3533525B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Device (1) for separating waste into relatively large and relatively small components, the device comprising: a rotatable sieve drum; at least one helical transport rib (14) located on the inner surface of the drum and which transports waste in a transport direction (15) when the drum (3) rotates; and a number of obstruction plates (16) which cover the holes, supported on the outer side of the drum (3) by this drum (3), and which serve to prevent passage of elongate waste components through the holes (10). The holes (10) are grouped in a pattern such that a number of holes (10) is disposed in a helical row, this row having a helical form corresponding to the adjacent transport rib (14) placed downstream in the transport direction, and the distance of each hole (10) to this transport rib (14) is smaller than 0.4 x the smallest linear dimension of a hole.