Adjustable Mouth Spherical Joint for Archimedes Screw
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adjustable mouths for archimedes screws and similar devices suffer from permanent plastic deformation leading to imperfect spherical joints, exposure to atmospheric agents, and large axial mass, which compromises sealing and makes them non-dismountable and energy-inefficient.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable mouth design featuring tubular elements with a spherical surface and connecting elements that rotate around a central axis, allowing for easy mounting and dismounting, and enabling a smaller maximum inclination angle with reduced mass, thus improving energy efficiency and sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If permanent plastic deformation is used to couple the two portions of the mouth, then the joint can be adjusted to different angles, but the spherical surfaces become imperfect and sealing is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The mouth is divided into two separate portions (first portion and second portion) that can be independently manufactured with precise spherical surfaces. The first portion has a spherical external surface while the second portion has a corresponding spherical internal surface, allowing each to be precision-manufactured separately rather than deformed together.
Solution Approach 2:
A spherical intermediate surface acts as the coupling interface between the two portions. The spherical external surface of the first portion fits into the spherical internal surface of the second portion, creating a precise geometric interface that maintains sealing while enabling angular adjustment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the spherical joint is designed to allow full angular adjustment, then the mouth can be positioned at any inclination, but the axial mass increases due to large diameter spherical surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The design optimizes the diameter parameter of the spherical surfaces to achieve the necessary angular adjustment range while minimizing mass. By carefully selecting the spherical radius and leveraging the diagonal joining plane configuration, the invention reduces the axial mass compared to conventional designs that require larger spherical diameters for the same adjustment capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the spherical joint surfaces are large enough to provide sufficient adjustment range, then the mouth can accommodate various inclinations, but the overall mass of the mouth increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a diagonal joining plane that is inclined at 45 degrees to the longitudinal axes of the tubular elements. This diagonal orientation allows the spherical surfaces to provide angular adjustment in a more efficient geometric configuration, reducing the required spherical diameter and thus the overall mass while maintaining the same adjustment range.
4Reliability
If the mouth is designed as a permanent assembly for structural integrity, then the joint remains stable, but it cannot be dismounted for maintenance or repositioning
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling between the first and second portions is designed to be dynamically adjustable rather than permanently fixed. The spherical joint allows the two portions to be assembled and disassembled while maintaining stability during operation, enabling maintenance and repositioning without compromising joint integrity when properly assembled.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
An adjustable loading/unloading mouth, comprising: a first tubular element (2), provided with a longitudinal axis (x); a second tubular element (3), provided with a longitudinal axis (y); means for connecting (4, 5, 6) between the first and the second tubular element (2, 3) which means for connecting (4, 5, 6) define a spherical surface (S), provided with a centre (O), and which enable the first and the second tubular element (2, 3) to rotate with respect to one another about the centre (O); wherein the means for connecting (4, 5, 6) comprise at least a first connecting element (4) and at least a second connecting element (5) which are reciprocally connectable at a joining plane (P) passing through the centre (O) of the spherical surface (S) on which the first connecting element (4) and the second connecting element (5) can rotate with respect to one another about the centre (O).