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US20140196515

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US 20140196515A1
(19) United States
(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2014/0196515 A1
Bloxham
(43) Pub. Date:
(54) APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FORMING
(30)
J 11]. 17, 2014
Foreign Application Priority Data
A SCREW FLIGHT
Jul. 5,2011
(75) Inventor:
Gregory John Bloxham, Beecroft (AU)
(AU) .............................. .. 2011902667
Publication Classi?cation
(51)
(73) Assignee: ADVANCED SPIRAL
TECHNOLOGY PTY LIMITED,
Int. Cl.
BZID 11/14
(52) us CL
Castle Hill, New South Wales (AU)
CPC .................................... .. 3210 11/14 (2013.01)
USPC
72/67
14/130 837
(22)
PCT Filed.
JUL 5, 2012
This invention relates to an apparatus for forming a helical
screW ?ight from a ?ight blank. The apparatus includes a base
(86)
PCT NO"
PCT/AU2012/000803
mounted to the base and is con?gured to formineg engage the
Mar. 27, 2014
blank corresponding to a predetermined pitch of the ?ight.
)
A
............................................................ ..
1.N .:
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21
(2006.01)
pp
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ABSTRACT
and an engaging means. The engaging means is movably
§ 371 (c)(1),
(2), (4) Date:
(57)
blank so as to form a tWist in at least a portion of the ?ight
1
Patent Application Publication
Jul. 17, 2014 Sheet 1 0f 17
US 2014/0196515 A1
Patent Application Publication
Jul. 17, 2014 Sheet 2 0f 17
US 2014/0196515 A1
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Jul. 17, 2014 Sheet 3 0f 17
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US 2014/0196515 A1
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Patent Application Publication
GUIDE 12—95
Jul. 17, 2014 Sheet 4 0f 17
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US 2014/0196515 A1
GUIDE my
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Patent Application Publication
Jul. 17, 2014 Sheet 5 0f 17
Inner Diameter "ID"
"Outer Diameter "OD"
FIGUREG
US 2014/0196515 A1
Patent Application Publication
I
Jul. 17, 2014 Sheet 6 0f 17
_ Flight Pitch "PT"
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Flight Thickness "TH"
FIGUREB
US 2014/0196515 A1
Patent Application Publication
' BENDTINUTKREI'NCSEURTE
Jul. 17, 2014 Sheet 7 0f 17
US 2014/0196515 A1
Patent Application Publication
Jul. 17, 2014 Sheet 8 0f 17
US 2014/0196515 A1
3. MOVE THE RULE TO LINE-UP THE SCRIBE AND CENTRE
LINES THEN LOCK IN PLACE BY TIGHTENING BOLTS
4. LOOSEN BOLTS
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PLATE CENTRE Ll E! IF'YES
THEN ROCEED TO NEXT PAGE
2. LOOSEN BOLTS
IF NO THEN FOLLOW POINTS 2 AND 3
HGURE10
Patent Application Publication
Jul. 17, 2014 Sheet 9 0f 17
FIGURE 11
US 2014/0196515 A1
Patent Application Publication
Jul. 17, 2014 Sheet 10 0f 17
US 2014/0196515 A1
1. RULE GUIDE MUST BE FREE,
TO MOVE WITH IN CHANNEL
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3. SLIDE THE RULE ASSEMBLY UP
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OR DOWN UNTIL BASE OFFSET
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MEASUREMENT IS ACHIEVED
‘ OFFSET) MEASUREMENT
FIGURE 12
Patent Application Publication
Jul. 17, 2014 Sheet 11 0f 17
5
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US 2014/0196515 A1
1. LOCK RULE.
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2. REMOVE RULE GUIDE
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Patent Application Publication
, ~
Jul. 17, 2014 Sheet 12 0f 17
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‘ SELECT AND INSERT APPROPRIATEV
(DIE SIDE PLATE) AS PER (FLIGHT
DIE CONFIGURATION PROGRAM)
INTO BACK PLATE CHANNELS
HGURE14
US 2014/0196515 A1
Patent Application Publication
Jul. 17, 2014 Sheet 13 0f 17
3. LOCK (DIE SIDE PLATE) INTO POSITION
1. SLIDE
SDIE SIDE
PLATE TOWARDS RULE /
2. UNTIL CONTACT BETWEEN DIE
SIDE PLATE) AND RULE ED E
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24
FIGURE .15
US 2014/0196515 A1
Patent Application Publication
Jul. 17, 2014 Sheet 14 0f 17
US 2014/0196515 A1
I. ADJUST THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SUPPORT BRACKET)
AND RULE EDGE ALONG (DIE SIDE LATE) TOP EDGE
TO MATCH THE (SUPPORT OFFSET) MEASUREMENT
\ 2. LOCK (SUPPORT BRACKET)
‘
FIGURE 16
Patent Application Publication
Jul. 17, 2014 Sheet 15 0f 17
US 2014/0196515 A1
1. ADJUST THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SUPPORT BRACKET)
AND RULE EDGE ALONG (DIE SIDE LATE) TOP EDGE
TO MATCH THE (SUPPORT OFFSET) MEASUREMENT
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N2. LOCK (SUPPORT BRACKET)
FIGURE 17
Patent Application Publication
Jul. 17, 2014 Sheet 16 0f 17
US 2014/0196515 A1
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Patent Application Publication
Jul. 17, 2014 Sheet 17 0f 17
US 2014/0196515 A1
\a\
SIDE PLATE ANGLE
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‘ FIGURE 21
Jul. 17, 2014
US 2014/0196515 A1
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FORMING
A SCREW FLIGHT
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001]
This invention relates generally to the ?eld of mate
rials handling equipment. More particularly, the present
invention relates to screw or auger ?ights (particularly sec
annular) wherein the annulus shapedblank has an inner diam
eter and an outer diameter. The engaging means is preferably
adapted to twist the portion of the annulus about a mean
radius line of the annulus. It will be appreciated by those
skilled in the art that, by twisting the blank about its mean
radius line, undesirable rounding or rolling across the cross
section of the blank is substantially avoided.
tional ?ights) and to an apparatus and method of forming such
[0014]
?ights.
sides of the blank such that forming movement of the engag
ing means forms a twist in at least a portion of the ?ight blank.
[0015] In some embodiments, the engaging means includes
primary engaging means for engaging the blank at at least two
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Any discussion of the prior art throughout the speci
?cation should in no way be considered as an admission that
such prior art is widely known or forms part of common
general knowledge in the ?eld.
[0003]
Screw or auger ?ights are typically used in bulk
handling industries for e?iciently moving ?uid, granular or
semi-solid material. Rotation of the ?ight causes the material
to be conveyed along the surface of a spiralled coil section.
[0004] The means and method of manufacturing conven
tional sectional screw ?ights involves pressing each section of
?ight between a set of appropriately shaped dies. Each section
of ?ight is then typically welded to a shaft in sequence to form
The engaging means preferably engages opposed
spaced apart positions, whereby the primary engaging means
is con?gured to cause relative movement between the at least
two engaged positions so as to form the twist in the blank.
[0016] In certain preferred embodiments, the primary
engaging means includes two pairs of (primary) side plates.
Each side plate is preferably a die formed plate having an
engaging portion such as, for example, an engaging edge or
surface for engaging the blank. Each side plate is preferably.
arranged so as to extend in a direction which is substantially
normal to the mean radius line of the blank.
a complete conveyor screw.
[0017] Preferably, each pair of side plates has a ?rst ?xed
plate and a second movable plate, the second plate being
[0005]
movable relative to the ?xed plate.
The conventional die pressing method has a number
of inherent disadvantages. These disadvantages include that,
[0018]
depending on the thickness of the blank material used, is it
often necessary to repeat the die pressing operation several
times in order to conform the shape of the annulus to the shape
of the dies between which the blank is pressed. The require
ment to repeat the pressing cycle necessarily adds to the costs
of production of screw ?ights produced via this method.
means includes secondary engaging means for engaging the
blank at at least one position in between the primary engaging
means. The secondary engaging means preferably engages
In some preferred embodiments, the engaging
the blank at a central or mid-point between the primary
engaging means. Preferably, the secondary engaging means
includes a pair of mid-plates. The mid-plates preferably
[0006] Furthermore, the blank typically undergoes plastic
include a ?xed mid-plate and a movable mid-plate, the mov
deformation during the pressing process which can lead to
inaccuracy in ?ight pro?les outside of desired manufacturing
able mid-plate being movable relative to the ?xed mid-plate.
[0019] The ?xed plates of both the primary and secondary
tolerances. Such variations away froth desired manufacturing
tolerances necessarily lead to inferior products and a resulting
engaging means are preferably mounted to a mounting means
such as a mounting frame connected to the base. Preferably,
reduction in product performance and lifespan.
the mounting means includes a receiving formation for
[0007]
receiving each ?xed plate. The receiving formation prefer
ably includes a pair of spaced apart channels, grooves, slots,
In addition, for each particular size and pitch for a
?ight, two sets of dies are needed if both left and right hand
?ights are to be produced, further adding to the costs of using
dies to form screw ?ights.
[0008] It is also di?icult to produce accurate dies which will
ridges, or other suitable formation for receiving the ?xed side
plates, and a central receiving formation (e.g. channel) for
receiving the ?xed mid-plate.
produce a ?ight of a particular size and pitch. Accordingly, it
[0020]
is typically necessary to use an iterative process of trial and
error whereby several sets of dies are produced, tested and
tion for mounting the plate in or on or otherwise to the receiv
modi?ed until the desired properties of a ?ight can be
achieved from the die set.
[0009] It is an object of the present invention to overcome
or ameliorate one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art,
or at least to provide a useful alternative.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] According to a ?rst aspect of the invention, there is
provided an apparatus for forming a helical screw ?ight from
Preferably, each ?xed plate has a mounting forma
ing formation. The mounting formation of each plate is pref
erably complementary in shape to that of the receiving
formation. For example, the mounting formation and the
receiving formation may be con?gured as a tongue-and
groove type arrangement.
[0021] In certain embodiments, securing means is provided
for securing each ?xed side plate in position, relative to the
mounting means. The securing means preferably includes
one or more locking screws for holding the mounting forma
a ?ight blank, the apparatus including:
tion (e. g. tongue) in the associated channel. Preferably, each
receiving formation is con?gured to enable the associated
[0011]
[0012]
mined position along the length of the receiving formation.
a base; and
engaging means movably mounted to the base, the
engaging means being con?gured to formingly engage the
blank so as to form a twist in at least a portion of the ?ight
blank corresponding to a predetermined pitch of the ?ight.
[0013] Preferably, the ?ight blank is in the form of an
annulus, more preferably, an open ended annulus (e.g. a pen
?xed plate to be selectively mounted at a desired or predeter
For example, the ?xed plates can be slid along the associated
channel and then locked in the desired position.
[0022] Preferably, a locking means such as, for example, a
lock-bolt is provided for locking the ?xed mid-plate in posi
tion, relative to the mounting means.
Jul. 17, 2014
US 2014/0196515 A1
[0023]
The movable plates of the primary engaging means
and the secondary engaging means are preferably mounted to
a movable frame, the frame being movably mounted to the
base to enable relative movement between the ?xed plates and
the movable plates.
[0024] The movable frame preferably has a mounting for
mation for mounting the movable plates. Preferably, the
mounting formation of the movable frame corresponds to
(e. g. mirrors) the mounting formation of the ?xed mounting
frame such that the engaging portion of each pair of ?xed and
movable plates is substantially aligned. That is, the pairs of
side plates and the pair of mid-plates are preferably in engag
plates and the mid-plate in a counter-clockwise direction, or
vice versa. Again, it will be appreciated that side plates can be
mounted to achieve the desired direction of rotation for pro
ducing either a right-hand or left-hand twist in the blank.
[0030] Each side plate (?xed and movable) is generally
trapezoidal in shape, wherein its engaging edge is tapered
relative to its mounting formation. To achieve the desired
rotation of the blank at the point held between the side plates,
the ?rst pair of side plates are arranged such that the tapered
edges of the ?xed and movable plates in the ?rst pair are
ing alignment.
substantially parallel and extend at a negative angle (or posi
tive angle for opposite hand formation). Similarly, the second
pair of side plates are arranged such that the tapered edges of
[0025]
the ?xed and movable plates in the second pair are substan
The receiving formations are preferably arranged
such that the pairs of side plates are angled relative to one
another. Preferably, the side plates are con?gured such that
the relative angle therebetween is less than 180 degrees. In
certain preferred embodiments, the side plates are arranged to
have an angle of approximately 60 degrees therebetween. It
will be appreciated that the primary engaging members are
not limited to being angled at 60 degrees, but could, in other
embodiments, be angled at any suitable angle less than 180
degrees. For example, the side plates can be angled at
approximately 30, 45, 65, 75, 90, 105, 120, 135 or 145
degrees relative to each other.
[0026]
Preferably, a support means is associated with the
side plates for supporting the ?ight blank, in use. The support
means is preferably con?gured to support the outer diameter
of the blank. Preferably, the support means includes a ?rst
support bracket mountable to a ?xed side plate of a ?rst pair
tially parallel and extend at a positive angle (or negative angle
for opposite hand formation).
[0031]
It will therefore be appreciated that, due to the
tapered engaging edges of the side plates, the relative linear
movement between the ?xed and movable side plates results
in a rotation of the part of the blank between the plates about
the mean radius line to produce the desired twist in the blank.
[0032] In at least one preferred embodiment, the actuating
means is con?gured such that the apparatus operates with a
forming force in the range of 0 to 60 tonne at 200 bar (2,900
psi), and the forming speed is within the range of 0 to 80
mm/ s. Embodiments operating within these parameters can
be suitable for forming a helical screw from a blank having a
thickness in the range of 1 mm to 300 mm.
[0033]
According to a second aspect of the invention, there
is provided a method of forming a helical screw ?ight, the
of primary engaging side plates and a second support bracket
method including:
mountable to a movable side plate of a second pair of primary
[0034]
providing a ?ight blank of a predetermined size; and
engaging side plates. Each support bracket is preferably
selectively adjustably positionable relative to the associated
[0035]
formingly engaging the blank so as to form a twist in
side plate and secured thereto by a suitable locking means
such as one or more locking elements (e.g. screws). It will be
appreciated that the support brackets can be selectively
mounted to the desired side plates, depending on whether a
right-hand or left-hand helical screw ?ight is to be formed by
at least a portion of the ?ight blank, the twist substantially
corresponding to a predetermined pitch of the ?ight.
[0036] Preferably, the method includes twisting at least a
portion of the blank generally about a mean radius line of the
blank.
[0037]
Preferably, the method includes engaging the blank
the apparatus.
[0027] The moveable frame is preferably moved by an
with primary engaging means at at least two spaced apart
actuating means. The actuating means preferably includes a
to cause relative movement between the at least two engaged
positions so as to form the twist in the blank.
hydraulically driven cylinder, the hydraulic cylinder being
positions, whereby the primary engaging means is con?gured
selectively movable between an extended position and a
[0038]
retracted position for moving the movable frame and thus the
engaging means for engaging the blank at at least one position
movable plates of the primary and secondary engaging
in between the primary engaging means, whereby the
means. Preferably, the hydraulic cylinder has a cylinder rod
engaged portion of the blank on one side of the secondary
engaging means is twisted in a ?rst direction and the engaged
portion of the blank on the other side of the secondary engag
ing means is twisted in a second opposed direction.
which is con?gured to cause linear movement of the movable
frame when the cylinder rod extends or retracts.
[0028] To facilitate the forward and backwards linear
movement of the movable frame, the movable frame and base
[0039]
The method preferably includes using a secondary
Preferably, the method includes determining the
are preferably ?tted with guide means. Preferably, the guide
size of the blank from at least one of a desired pitch, outer
means includes at least one front guide bar and at least one
diameter, inner diameter, and thickness of the formed helical
rear guide bar extending from the movable frame. The at least
one front guide bar is arranged to pass through an aperture in
a front guide plate and the at least one rear guide bar is
arranged to pass through an aperture in a rear guide plate. In
screw ?ight.
one particularly preferred embodiment, there is provided two
front guide bars and two rear guide bars.
[0029] Preferably, a ?rst pair of side plates is con?gured to
rotate the portion of the blank between that pair of side plate
and the mid-plate (i.e. secondary engaging means) in a clock
wise direction, and a second pair of side plates is con?gured
to rotate the portion of the blank between that pair of side
[0040] According to a third aspect of the invention, there is
provided a screw (or auger) ?ight which has been manufac
tured in accordance with the method of the second aspect of
the invention.
[0041] According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there
is provided a method of setting up an apparatus for forming a
helical screw ?ight from a ?ight blank, the method including:
[0042] securing a central engaging means to the apparatus;
[0043] aligning a set up device with the central engaging
means;
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