Alternating Blade Pool Cleaner Paddle Wheel

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Solution Overview

Problem

Suction-side pool cleaners face a tradeoff between efficiency and debris handling, as reducing clearance between paddle wheel blades and the housing increases efficiency but can clog or impede rotation, while increasing clearance improves debris passage but reduces efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A paddle wheel mechanism with alternating first-type and second-type blades, each with different widths extending along the paddle wheel base, allowing debris to pass while efficiently harnessing kinetic energy from fluid flow without excessive choking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If clearance between paddle wheel blades and housing is reduced, then efficiency is improved by harnessing more kinetic energy, but debris may clog or impede rotation of the paddle wheel

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvekinetic energy lossVSAvoiddebris passage capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The paddle wheel blades are segmented into two types with different widths (first-type blades with first blade width, second-type blades with second blade width), creating alternating wide and narrow passages that separately handle energy harvesting and debris passage functions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the paddle wheel have different blade widths tailored to local requirements: narrower blades where kinetic energy harvesting is prioritized, and wider blades where debris passage is prioritized, optimizing both functions simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If clearance between paddle wheel blades and housing is increased, then debris passage is improved, but efficiency is reduced due to more fluid flowing through clearances without providing kinetic energy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedebris passage capabilityVSAvoidkinetic energy loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The paddle wheel is divided into alternating first-type and second-type blades, creating distinct zones for debris passage and energy harvesting, allowing each zone to be optimized for its specific function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The blade width variation occurs in the axial dimension along the paddle wheel base, creating alternating wide and narrow passages that guide debris flow while maintaining efficient kinetic energy transfer in other regions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If pivoting blades are used to allow larger debris passage, then debris handling is improved, but drag increases and efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedebris passage capabilityVSAvoiddrag loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of making the blades pivot to handle debris, the invention makes the passages between blades variable in width through alternating blade designs, allowing debris passage without blade movement and avoiding the drag associated with pivoting mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Reliability

If separate rotating shafts are used for each blade to allow independent pivoting, then debris passage is improved, but manufacturing and assembly complexity significantly increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedebris passage capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing and assembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple blades are merged onto a single paddle wheel base, with all blades rotating together on one shaft. The alternating wide and narrow passages between adjacent blades provide debris handling capability without requiring separate shafts or pivoting mechanisms for each blade

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

The alternating-blade design effectively prevents clogging while maintaining high efficiency by allowing debris to pass through axial clearances, reducing the need for large radial clearances and enhancing the paddle wheel's operational performance.

Implementation Method 1

a turbine or paddle wheel may be provided within a water flow passage to harvest energy from the water flow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectKinetic energy harvesting: Turbine

Data Source

PatentUS9850672B2Alternating paddle mechanism for pool cleaner

Publication Date: 2017.12.26 PENTAIR WATER POOL & SPA INC

AI summary

Embodiments of the invention provide a paddle wheel mechanism for a pool cleaner. The paddle wheel mechanism includes a housing with an internal flow area, a paddle wheel shaft supported by the housing, and a paddle wheel supported by the paddle wheel shaft. The paddle wheel includes a base extending along a base width and a plurality of paddle wheel blades extending from the base within the internal flow area. The plurality of paddle wheel blades include a first-type blade with a first blade portion having a first blade width, and a second-type blade with a second blade portion having a second blade width. The first blade width and the second blade width are each less than the base width, and the first-type and second-type blades are arranged on the base in an alternating manner.