Offset Fin Manufacturing with Non-Offset Lateral Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing offset fin manufacturing methods face challenges in transporting offset fins due to the insufficient strength of connections between them, which are prone to breaking during transportation, especially as fin pitches are reduced to improve heat exchange performance.
Innovation Solution
The method involves forming offset fins with lateral and top surface portions in a rectangular waveform, where two top surface portions are directly connected to connections, and one lateral surface portion is not offset in the wave continuation direction, increasing the length of the top surface portions and enhancing connection strength. This is achieved through a manufacturing process using a feeding device, connection forming device, and offset fin forming device, which can adjust the perpendicular direction to optimize fin formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fin pitches are reduced to improve heat exchange performance, then heat exchange performance is improved, but connection strength deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a specific structural configuration where one lateral surface portion is non-offset and directly connected to top surface portions, while other lateral surface portions remain offset. This localized structural differentiation at the connection region enhances connection strength without requiring changes to the overall fin pitch configuration, thereby maintaining heat exchange performance while solving the connection strength problem.
2Reliability
If connection width is reduced to accommodate smaller fin pitches, then heat exchange performance is improved, but connection strength deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite structural approach by combining offset and non-offset lateral surface portions within the same connection structure. This creates a hybrid configuration where the non-offset portion provides enhanced mechanical strength while the offset portions maintain the compact fin pitch arrangement, effectively creating a composite structural solution that addresses both performance and strength requirements.
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 enhanced connection strength reduces the likelihood of connection breakage during transportation, while maintaining heat exchange performance by ensuring consistent top surface widths, thereby improving the durability and efficiency of offset fin assemblies.
Implementation Method 1
an offset fin forming device that bends the planar plate portion to form offset fins
Data Source
AI summary
An offset fin manufacturing method for manufacturing offset fins includes a feeding step of feeding a strip plate, a connection forming step of forming a connection in the strip plate, and an offset fin forming step of bending a planar plate portion located between corresponding two of the connections. In the offset fin forming step, each offset fin is formed such that two of top surface portions, which are located at an upstream end and a downstream end, respectively, of the offset fin in a feed direction of the strip plate, are respectively and directly connected to corresponding two of the connections. One of two of lateral surface portions joined to a corresponding one of the two of the top surface portions is not offset, and thereby a length of the corresponding one of the two of the top surface portions measured along a wave continuation direction is increased.