Spiral Screw Bucket Drum

grabcad

Construction:This design for the bucket drum is inspired by the ingenious Archimedes screw concept. To keep construction simple, I have minimized components to just a few essential parts.Every drum consists of two identical "compartments" attached at exactly 180 degrees to each other.A compartment comprises three primary parts:• The outer drum is a fundamental component.• The Archimedean spiral screw is the most critical part of this design.• The scoopThe outer drum features a rectangular hole near one edge, and the scoop is attached here. The axle of the spiral screw is then connected to the inner circular face of the outer drum. The spiral screw is hollow with a 1mm thickness to minimize weight.The best method for manufacturing these parts is through sheet metal operations. These parts can be assembled using rivets, and the two compartments can be attached, thus completing the construction of the drum.Working:The bucket drum operates similarly to the Archimedes screw in transporting water. During loading, regolith scooped up moves away from the outer drum opening due to spiral screw action. There is little chance for regolith to escape out of the scoop while moving to the dump location.During unloading, the exact opposite occurs: Regolith moves towards the outer drum opening and exits the scoop.Specifications:Maximum bucket drum length: 360mmMaximum bucket drum diameter: 450mmMaximum bucket drum mass: 4.90-4.98 kg (assuming an Aluminium-Magnesium alloy with a density of 1.90-1.93 g/cc)Maximum total width of scoops engaged at any given time: 93mm per drumThickness of outer drum and scoop: 1.5mmThickness of all other components within the outer drum: 1mmTotal internal volume of the bucket drum: 49.084 litresEstimated fill factor: 80-85%Maximum amount of regolith captured: 39.268-41.722 litres per drum