Perforated Membrane Layout for Beam-Based Lattice Fluid Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing manufacturing techniques struggle to form perforations in membranes applied to lattice structures without intersecting with the beams, leading to reduced fluid flow and impractical manual alignment of perforation locations.
Innovation Solution
A system identifies intersections between beams and membranes using additive manufacturing, generating a digital representation to align perforations in the membrane to avoid beam intersections and enhance fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If manual alignment of perforation locations is used, then perforations can be placed in the membrane, but beam intersections with perforations occur reducing fluid flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical alignment with an automated computer-based system that calculates optimal perforation locations. The system receives digital representations of beams and membranes, automatically identifies intersection points, and determines precise perforation locations without manual intervention, thereby eliminating the trade-off between precision and ease of manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary identification of beam intersections with the membrane before creating perforations. By pre-calculating intersection points and excluding them from perforation locations, the system ensures that perforations will not block fluid flow paths, resolving the contradiction between achieving precise perforation placement and maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
2Productivity
If perforations are aligned with fluid flow channels, then fluid flow is enhanced, but perforations may intersect with beams reducing structural integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification of beam intersections with the membrane before determining perforation locations. By pre-calculating which areas are occupied by beams and excluding those regions from perforation placement, the system ensures that perforations enhance fluid flow without compromising structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different properties to different regions of the membrane. Perforations are strategically placed in regions where they enhance fluid flow through channels, while avoiding regions where they would compromise structural beams. This localized differentiation allows the membrane to simultaneously achieve both fluid flow efficiency and structural integrity.
3Productivity
If more perforations are added to the membrane, then fluid flow increases, but cleaning complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a non-uniform distribution of perforations with varying sizes and densities across different regions of the membrane. Rather than uniformly distributing identical perforations throughout, the system places perforations of different dimensions in specific locations based on fluid flow requirements, thereby increasing fluid flow while managing cleaning complexity through strategic localization.
Data Source
AI summary
In some examples, a system receives data representing a beam-based lattice structure and a membrane to be placed on the beam-based lattice structure, and identifies intersections of beams of the beam-based lattice structure with the membrane. The system identifies locations for perforations in the membrane to form a perforated membrane, the identified locations excluding the identified intersections, and generates a representation of an object comprising the perforated membrane that includes the perforations at the identified locations.