Air Guide Element with Zigzag Grid Webs for Axial Ventilator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air guide elements for axial fans, which include a protective grille, are difficult to produce in a simple and economical manner due to the complex multi-part mold required for the outflow-side grid configuration.
Innovation Solution
The protective grille's grid webs are designed to connect at one end to the inflow-side blade edges and the other end to the adjacent outflow-side blade edges of the air guide vanes, creating a zigzag course that allows for a one-piece molded part production in a simple two-part mold without undercuts, maintaining flow-promoting properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the protective grille is arranged on the outflow side with conventional grid configuration, then protection function is achieved, but production complexity increases due to requiring complex multi-part mold
Solution Approach 1:
The grid webs are inverted in their connection pattern: instead of connecting to outflow-side edges only, they connect in a zigzag pattern between inflow-side blade edges and outflow-side blade edges of adjacent vanes. This inversion of the conventional grid arrangement eliminates undercuts and allows simple two-part mold production while maintaining the protective function.
2Ease of manufacture
If the air guide element is designed as integral injection molded part, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but production is only possible with complex multi-part mold
Solution Approach 1:
The zigzag connection pattern of grid webs to blade edges inverts the conventional design approach, eliminating undercuts that prevent simple mold demolding. This allows the entire air guide element with protective grille to be produced as an integral injection molded part using a simple two-part mold without slides or complex mechanisms.
3Reliability
If grid webs connect in conventional pattern, then protective function is achieved, but flow-promoting properties are impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The grid webs are designed with local variation in their connection points along the blade edges, creating a zigzag pattern that adapts to the local geometry of each air guide vane. This local adaptation maintains favorable flow guidance at each section while providing protection, avoiding the flow impairment that would result from a uniform grid pattern.
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 enables efficient flow guidance with minimal velocity loss conversion to static pressure, and allows for a mechanical load-bearing connection to fan components, facilitating easier assembly and attachment in ventilation systems.
Implementation Method 1
the air guide vanes viewed in the circumferential direction in each case between an inflow-side blade edge facing the fan and an opposite outflow-side blade edge inclined to the axial direction
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The element (1) has a single-piece molded part (2) with multiple air guide vanes (4) that are distributed in circumferential direction about a longitudinal axis (6). A protective grid (8) is integrally connected with the air guide vanes and comprises concentric grid webs (18) that are connected with the air guide vanes. The grid webs comprise web sections, where an end of the sections is connected with inflow-side blade edges of the air guide vanes. Another end is connected with outflow-side blade edges of the air guide vanes in the circumferential direction.