Possibility of Particle Transportation with Vibrating Parallel Saw-tooth Plates under Microgravity

This paper proposes a new technique of particle transportation by vibration under micro-gravity, in which a couple of parallel plates with saw-tooth wavy surface are vibrated perpendicularly to the direction of particle flow. The lateral vibration of plates gave rise to particle collisions on the inclined wall surface so as to generate a driving force in the parallel direction. Experiments were carried out under microgravity during the parabolic flights of an airplane. Lead beads of 360μm in average diameter were used for the experiments. The vibration conditions were 100Hz in frequency and 0.1mm in displacement amplitude. Behavior of particles inside the vibrating cell was observed with a video camera from the direction of particle flow. As a result, within the range of the present experimental conditions, a marked effect on particle transportation was observed for 3.5mm aperture between the plates and 18° in inclination angle of the saw-tooth.