Oval-Hub Propeller Fan With Leading-Edge Ribs for Blade Stiffness
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Propeller fans used in air conditioners require a large hub for structural support, leading to increased weight and material costs, and alternatives without a hub are costly due to the need for high-stiffness materials.
Innovation Solution
A propeller fan design with an oval-shaped hub and reinforcement ribs protruding from the blades, positioned closer to the leading edge, which reduces the hub size while maintaining structural stiffness, and is integrally injection molded using composite polypropylene resin.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a large hub is used to support the blades, then the structural stiffness is improved, but the weight and material cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the reinforcement function into two parts: the hub provides basic structural support, while additional reinforcement ribs are added only to the leading edge of the blades where stiffness is most needed. This segmentation allows the hub to be smaller while maintaining overall structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of uniformly reinforcing the entire blade structure, the patent applies reinforcement ribs only at the leading edge, which is the critical area requiring additional stiffness. This local quality approach reduces material usage while maintaining necessary structural performance.
2Weight of moving object
If the hub size is reduced to decrease weight, then the material cost is reduced, but the structural stiffness of the blades deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the reinforcement function between a reduced hub and leading edge reinforcement ribs, allowing the hub to be smaller while the ribs provide localized stiffness support where most needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite polypropylene resin with glass fiber reinforcement to achieve high structural stiffness in the blades while maintaining low weight, eliminating the need for a large heavy hub.
3Loss of substance
If hub size is reduced, then material cost is reduced, but the structural support capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the structural support function between a minimal hub and leading edge reinforcement ribs, reducing overall material usage while maintaining support capability through strategic placement of reinforcement elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies reinforcement ribs only at the leading edge where structural support is most critical, reducing material usage in non-critical areas while maintaining overall structural support capability.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Provided is a propeller fan(1) including a hub (300) having an oval shape in an axial direction, a plurality of blades (100, 200) that extend from the hub, and at least one reinforcement rib (160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 260, 261, 262, 263, 264) that extends from the hub and is formed closer to a leading edge of each of the plurality of blades. Through this configuration, the propeller fan has blowing efficiency and stiffness, and the weight and material cost of the propeller fan can be reduced.