Absorption Rotor Drop-off Prevention Member

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional absorption rotors face issues with the honeycomb body detaching from the spoke due to adhesion failure under high temperature conditions, leading to potential damage from wind pressure when metal fittings are used for fixation.

Innovation Solution

The absorption rotor design incorporates plate members extending radially from the rotation axis, a tubular outer edge member, and a drop-off prevention member fixed to both the absorption member and plate members, preventing the absorption member from dropping off while minimizing damage by avoiding attachment to gas passage surfaces and using a reduced number of welding points.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the honeycomb body and spoke are adhered via caulking material, then the assembly is simple, but the adhesion is removed under high temperature conditions causing the honeycomb body to drop off

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidadhesion reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A drop-off prevention member is introduced as an intermediary component between the honeycomb body and the spoke. This member has a first fitting portion that fits into the spoke and a second fitting portion that fits into the honeycomb body, providing mechanical interlocking that prevents drop-off under high temperature conditions while maintaining assembly simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If metal fitting is used to fix the honeycomb body, then the honeycomb body is secured from dropping off, but the honeycomb body is buckled by wind pressure due to attachment on the flow passage surface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixation reliabilityVSAvoidwind pressure damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The drop-off prevention member transitions the fixation approach from a two-dimensional surface attachment (metal fitting on the end surface) to a three-dimensional interlocking structure. The first fitting portion extends in the radial direction from the hub, and the second fitting portion fits into a groove on the side surface of the honeycomb body, creating mechanical interlocking that secures the honeycomb body without attaching to the flow passage end surface, thus avoiding wind pressure buckling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If the drop-off prevention member is fixed to the absorption member, then the absorption member is secured, but welding points are exposed to the exterior affecting design property

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment reliabilityVSAvoiddesign property
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The welding operation is extracted and relocated to the hub portion, which is positioned inside the rotor element. The first fitting portion of the drop-off prevention member extends radially from the hub, allowing welding to be performed at the hub location rather than on the exterior surface of the rotor element, thus maintaining design property while ensuring reliable attachment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 the absorption member from dropping off while reducing damage and enhancing the assembly process, ensuring the absorption member is securely attached without buckling due to wind pressure.

Implementation Method 1

an absorption member (11) which absorbs a substance to be absorbed when a gas passes through

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP3501621B1Absorption rotor and absorption rotor manufacturing method
Publication Date: 2021.07.14 NICHIAS CORP
  • EP3501621B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3501621B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3501621B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention is to prevent an absorption member from dropping off while reducing damage to the absorption member. An absorption rotor 1 includes plural spokes 3 extending in a radial manner from the circumference of the rotation axis, a tubular rim 4 coupling end portions of the plural spokes 3, an absorption member 11 accommodated in a space which is surrounded by the plural spokes 3 and the rim 4, the absorption member that absorbs a substance to be absorbed when a gas passes through, and a drop-off prevention member 12 respectively fixed to the spoke 3 and the absorption member 11, the drop-off prevention member that prevents the absorption member 11 from dropping off the spoke 3. The drop-off prevention member 12 is arranged between the absorption member 11 and the spoke 3, and between a surface from which the gas flows into the absorption member 11 and a surface from which the gas flows out of the absorption member.