Inlet Guide Vane Actuation Single-Plane Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current inlet guide vane systems in turbo-machinery face issues with non-symmetric force application, leading to increased actuation force requirements, sticking, and jamming due to bending forces and misalignment, and lack a compact design.
Innovation Solution
A compact single-plane inlet guide vane system is designed with an actuation ring and crank rods positioned in the same axial plane, allowing centralized force application through an actuation rod connected to the actuation ring, crank rods connected to vanes, and cranks positioned outside the actuation ring, reducing bending forces and improving alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the actuator rod and four bar mechanism are positioned in different planes than the actuation ring, then the inlet guide vane system can be operated, but bending forces are exerted on the actuation rod increasing the force necessary to rotate the actuation ring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges all force application points and leverage mechanisms into a single axial plane at the center of the actuation ring. The actuator rod, crank rods, and cranks are all positioned in this same plane, eliminating the multi-plane arrangement of prior art. This consolidation ensures symmetric force application and eliminates bending forces on the actuation rod, directly resolving the technical contradiction by reducing actuation force while maintaining operational capability.
2Reliability
If the actuator rod is positioned off-center relative to the actuation ring, then connection is achieved, but non-symmetric force application causes sticking and jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent deliberately introduces asymmetry in the form of a central stop mechanism that limits the rotation of the actuation ring to a predetermined range. This asymmetric constraint prevents over-rotation and ensures the mechanism operates within safe limits, improving reliability by preventing sticking and jamming while maintaining a relatively simple connection geometry through centralized positioning.
3Weight of moving object
If a compact design is implemented to reduce mass, then the system becomes more compact, but the force necessary to operate the system may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The compact design achieves mass reduction by consolidating all components (actuator rod, crank rods, cranks, actuation ring) into a single axial plane, eliminating the need for multiple planes and associated support structures. This merging of components into a compact single-plane arrangement simultaneously reduces system mass and maintains ease of operation by ensuring symmetric force application and eliminating bending forces, thus resolving the contradiction between compactness and operability.
Data Source
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AI summary
Apparatus and method for creating a compact inlet guide vane system and reducing the force required to operate the inlet guide vane system. Components of the inlet guide vane system, including but not limited to an actuation rod, actuation ring, crank rods, cranks and the associated connectors and bushings are assembled in the same plane. In this regard, when a force is applied to the actuator rod and transferred through the inlet guide vane system components, the force acts in a single plane. Further, the plane is centered over the rotational axial center of the actuation ring.