Widening Cross-Section Filter Channels for Fiber Feeding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing feeding devices for fiber-reinforced plastics production often face issues with clogging and have a limited service life due to the design of flow channels, which affects the reliability and efficiency of fiber feeding.
Innovation Solution
The feeding device features flow channels with a widening cross-section design that prevents clogging by ensuring fibers are sucked through unhindered, combined with a modular filter device made of metal with a stepped design and offset suction opening, reducing flow resistance and increasing service life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If flow channels have a narrow cross-section to filter fine dust particles, then filtering precision is improved, but clogging occurs and service life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter device is divided into multiple filter elements (at least two) arranged in parallel, each with its own flow channels. This segmentation allows the system to maintain fine filtering capability while distributing the fiber load across multiple channels, preventing any single channel from clogging too quickly.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow channels are designed with a stepped cross-section that widens in the flow direction, creating a three-dimensional gradient structure. The channels start with a narrow first cross-section for fine dust filtration, then expand to a wider second cross-section that prevents fiber clogging, effectively using dimensional transition to resolve the contradiction between filtering precision and service life.
2Reliability
If flow channels are widened to prevent clogging, then service life is improved, but flow resistance decreases and fine dust particles may not be filtered effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The flow channel cross-section is designed to be dynamic rather than uniform - it transitions from a narrow first cross-section to a wider second cross-section in the flow direction. This dynamic geometry allows the channel to provide fine filtration where needed while preventing clogging in the expanded section, maintaining both service life and filtering precision simultaneously.
3Productivity
If flow resistance is reduced to improve fiber feeding efficiency, then productivity is improved, but filtering capability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The filter device segments the airflow into multiple parallel flow channels, each with optimized geometry. This segmentation reduces overall flow resistance by providing multiple pathways while maintaining filtering capability through the stepped cross-section design of each individual channel.
Solution Approach 2:
The stepped cross-section design creates a three-dimensional flow path that expands in the flow direction. This dimensional change allows the channel to maintain pressure differential for filtration while reducing flow resistance through the expanded second cross-section, improving fiber feeding efficiency without compromising filtering capability.
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 design effectively prevents clogging, ensures a long service life, and maintains low flow resistance, allowing for reliable and efficient feeding of fibers with adjustable lengths into processing plants, particularly suitable for long-cut fibers.
Implementation Method 1
a suction device (28) for generating an air flow (L) and for sucking in the fibers (2)
Implementation Method 2
a filter device (31) for separating the fibers (2) from the air flow (L)
Implementation Method 3
the flow channels (36) have a flow cross section that widens in the direction of flow (37), so that a clogging of the filter device (31) is effectively prevented
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
A feeding device for supplying fibers (2) during the production of fiber-reinforced plastics includes a multi-shaft screw machine (15) for laterally feeding the fibers (2) into a processing unit (3) for producing fiber-reinforced plastics. The multi-shaft screw machine (15) comprises a housing (16), a plurality of inter-penetrating housing bores (17), rotatably driven screw shafts (19) in said housing bores, and a feed opening (25). In order to suck the fibers (2) into the housing bores (17) through the feed opening (25), a suction device generates an air flow (2) that sucks in the fibers (2). The fibers (2) are filtered from the air flow (2) by a filter device (31). In order to ensure a long service life, the filter device (31) has a plurality of ducts, the cross-section of which expands in a direction of flow.