Electrostatic Precipitator Plate Fastener With Adjustable Spacers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrostatic precipitator cells have fixed plate configurations, making them inflexible for various applications, prone to warping due to welding, and unable to be customized with different numbers of plates or spacings, limiting their adaptability and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of a plate fastener system with a fastener shaft, spacers, and a one-way shaft retainer allows for adjustable plate spacing and easy assembly/disassembly, enabling customizable configurations and preventing plate warping by using electrical insulator end caps and deformable spacers to maintain precise dimensions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If plates are welded or crimped together to form a fixed structure, then the electrostatic precipitator cell can be mass produced, but the assembled size and tolerance cannot be adjusted or controlled

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemass production capabilityVSAvoidassembled size and tolerance control

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The cell assembly is segmented into modular components (end frames, plates, spacers) that can be independently manufactured and then assembled. The end frames include slots or grooves that receive plate ends, allowing for modular construction that maintains precision while enabling mass production of individual components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Spacers are introduced as intermediary elements between plates to precisely control spacing and positioning. These spacers act as mediators that ensure consistent plate spacing and assembly tolerance without requiring complex welding or crimping operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If plates are permanently attached in fixed spacing, then the structure is stable, but the electrostatic precipitator cannot be tailored to various applications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidapplication-specific customization

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The assembly system transitions from permanent fixed attachment to a dynamic, adjustable configuration. Plates can be positioned at varying spacings by selecting different spacer configurations, and the assembly can be disassembled and reconfigured for different applications while maintaining structural stability through the end frame structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The end frame design with slots or grooves creates a universal assembly structure that can accommodate different numbers of plates, different plate spacings, and different configurations. This single design approach serves multiple applications by allowing flexible arrangement of plates within the standardized end frame structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Strength

If welding operation is used to attach plates, then the plates are permanently fixed, but warping of electrode plates occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepermanent attachment strengthVSAvoidplate warping

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The welding process is replaced with a mechanical assembly system using end frames with slots or grooves that receive plate ends, and spacers that position plates. This mechanical substitution eliminates the thermal effects of welding that cause warping while still providing strong, permanent attachment through the mechanical interlocking structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Device complexity

If a fixed number of plates are assembled, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the electrostatic precipitator cannot accommodate varying numbers of plates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing process complexityVSAvoidvariable plate configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The end frame design with standardized slots or grooves creates a universal mounting structure that can accommodate different numbers of plates without requiring different manufacturing processes. The same end frame design serves multiple configurations by simply varying the number of plates inserted into the standardized slot structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS7264659B1Plate fastener for an electrostatic precipitator cell

Publication Date: 2007.09.04 TECHTRONIC FLOOR CARE TECH LTD

AI summary

A plate fastener for an electrostatic precipitator cell is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The plate fastener includes a fastener shaft including a head. The fastener shaft extends through the electrostatic precipitator cell. The head is adapted to retain a first end plate of the electrostatic precipitator cell. The plate fastener further includes a plurality of spacers configured to fit onto the fastener shaft. A spacer of the plurality of spacers is adapted to be positioned between successive polarity plates of a plurality of plates of the electrostatic precipitator cell. The plate fastener further includes a one-way shaft retainer configured to affix to the fastener shaft. The one-way shaft retainer is adapted to retain a second end plate of the electrostatic precipitator cell. The plate fastener affixes the plurality of plates together into a set of spaced-apart plates.