Patent CZ-305136-B6 (CZ)
Title: Validation chain conveyor with drivers and method of modeling mechanical processes by making use thereof
Inventor: Žídek Martin
IPC: B65G47/34
Filed: 2013-12-17
Abstract: The present invention relates to determination of influence of bulk (particulate) material properties on functionality of transportation. It solves execution of checking and simulating experiments, particularly simulation of transportation processes of chain conveyors with drivers, further simulation of current and velocity fields through interactions between structural elements and transported materials exhibiting influence on the transportation by means of chain conveyors. For projecting new chain conveyors, the invention uses a DEM (Discreet Element Method) method. Based on measured values of physical and mechanical properties of the actual material, an actual mixture for dynamic simulation is created. The needful optimization parameters are obtained by measuring on a chain conveyor physical model, the body of which comprises a supporting frame (2) with both a driving station (4) drive (3) fastened thereto by means of a removable connection and a return station (5) with a tightening mechanism, wherein the driving and return stations (4, 5) are provided with toothed wheels mounted on shafts and being connected with each other by means of an endless traction element being wound about both the stations, wherein, driving elements are fastened be means of a removable joint to the endless traction element. The driving station (4) is further provided with transparent walls (14) and a speed sensor (33), the return station (5) is also provided with transparent walls (17) and in the space between the driving station (4) and the return station (5), there is situated a transparent measuring box (6). The transparent measuring box (6) and the supporting frame (2) are provided with at least one sensing element (28, 29, 30, 34, 35, 36) and/or at least one sensor (31, 36) of mechanical-physical properties. and at least with one high-speed camera (27), wherein the measuring box (6) is composed of two mirror-symmetrical transparent side plates (20), an upper transparent wall (21), transparent adjustable reflective boards/gates (22) attached by means of a removable connection to the supporting frame (2), further an exchangeable sliding bracket (18) of the upper branch mounted on bearing elements, which are attached by means of a removable connection to the side plates (20) and an exchangeable sliding bracket (19) of the lower branch mounted on the supporting frame (2), whereby the upper transparent wall (21) ), is provided with a funnel (23), which is provided with a tomographic sensor (32), the exchangeable sliding bracket (19) of the lower branch is also provided with a funnel (24) being also provided with a tomographic sensor (32). It is possible to sense, evaluate and optimize a broad range of data, such as particle velocity, structure torque, temperature, pressure, humidity, Poisson’s ratio, size and shape of particles etc. Values of actual measurement and simulation are then compared and based thereon the device attendance can carry out optional change in transportation parameters. The measured values are then stored in an archive and can be anytime used for optimization of the existing or projection on of new chain conveyors with drives.