Impeller Hub Geometry for Single-Piece Molding and Static Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blower impellers with truncated conical hubs face challenges in manufacturing, including increased man-hours, costs, and potential vibration and noise due to separate molding and attachment of vanes, which complicates the formation process and reduces strength at attachment points.
Innovation Solution
An impeller design featuring a hub with inclined blades and a connecting portion that integrates the outer circumferential surface, allowing for a single-piece molding and reducing the need for complex axial-direction molds, thereby simplifying manufacturing and enhancing static pressure generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the hub and vanes are molded as separate parts and attached, then the manufacturing flexibility increases, but the manufacturing cost rises and man-hours increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the hub and vanes into a single integrated impeller structure that can be molded as one piece. The hub is designed with a specific geometry where the outer circumferential surface includes a first portion above the vane root, a second portion below the vane root, and a connecting portion between them. This integration eliminates the need for separate molding and attachment processes, reducing manufacturing cost and man-hours while maintaining design flexibility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the hub and vanes are molded as separate parts and attached, then the manufacturing flexibility increases, but the strength of attached portions reduces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates weak attachment points by integrating the hub and vanes into a monolithic structure. The connecting portion of the hub's outer circumferential surface provides continuous material flow between the hub body and vane roots, ensuring uniform strength throughout the impeller without the stress concentration and potential failure points inherent in attached constructions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the hub and vanes are molded as separate parts and attached, then the manufacturing flexibility increases, but variations in weights cause vibration and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated monolithic structure ensures uniform weight distribution around the impeller's circumference. Since the entire impeller is molded as one piece with consistent material properties and density, there are no weight variations between separate components that could cause imbalance, vibration, or noise during rotation.
4Stress or pressure
If a truncated conical hub is used, then static pressure increases, but the manufacturing complexity increases due to the need for complex axial-direction molds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from requiring complex axial-direction molds to using simpler radial or lateral molding approaches. The hub's outer circumferential surface is designed with a connecting portion that allows the mold to be drawn in alternative directions, maintaining the truncated conical geometry for high static pressure generation while simplifying the molding process and reducing manufacturing complexity.
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 integrated design simplifies manufacturing, reduces costs, and improves static pressure while minimizing turbulence and vibration, resulting in a more efficient airflow generation.
Implementation Method 1
a hub (1) having an outer circumferential surface (11), the hub being rotated about a center axis extending in an up-down direction
Implementation Method 2
the first outer circumferential surface (111) is a curved surface having a curvature radius that gradually increases downward from above
Data Source
AI summary
An impeller includes a hub rotated about an up-down axis and inclined blades disposed circumferentially on a hub's outer circumferential surface. The outer circumferential surface includes a first surface including a portion axially overlapping the blade above its joined portion to the blade, a second surface including a portion axially overlapping the blade below the joined portion, and a connecting portion connecting a rotating-direction rear end of the first outer circumferential surface and a rotating-direction front end of the second outer circumferential surface. The connecting portion is arranged forward of a rotating-direction blade front edge. A distance from the axis to a first point, positioned at the rotating-direction rear end of the first outer circumferential surface, is not shorter than that from the axis to a second point, positioned at the rotating-direction front end of the second outer circumferential surface and at the same axial position as the first point.