Propeller Hub and Blade Intermediate Plate Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing propellers face issues such as high manufacturing costs, cavitation problems leading to turbulence and premature wear, suboptimal performance requiring powerful motors, poor adaptation with electric motors, and inefficient design causing drag and reduced thrust, especially in liquid mediums.
Innovation Solution
A propeller design featuring a hub with blades connected via intermediate plates forming specific angles, a monobloc structure made from materials like metal, plastic, or wood, with a polygonal or circular hub shape and curved blades optimized for fluid flow, allowing for efficient thrust and reduced wear, and a manufacturing process involving sheet cutting and bending.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If propellers are made with traditional multi-part construction (hub, blades, screws), then assembly flexibility is improved, but manufacturing costs increase and structural fragility increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the hub, blades, and connecting elements into a single monobloc structure manufactured from one piece of material. This eliminates the need for separate components and assembly operations, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining structural integrity. The single-piece construction directly addresses the contradiction by combining multiple functions into one component.
2Productivity
If propellers operate at high rotational speeds to improve productivity, then thrust output increases, but cavitation occurs causing turbulence and premature wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs curved blade profiles with specific concave and convex surfaces that follow aerodynamic/hydrodynamic principles. The curved geometry optimizes fluid flow around the blades, reducing turbulence and cavitation effects at high rotational speeds. This allows the propeller to maintain high productivity while improving reliability by minimizing wear from cavitation.
3Force
If powerful motors are used to improve thrust, then propulsion capability increases, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes geometric parameters of the blades including pitch angle, curvature radius, and blade area to maximize propulsion efficiency. By carefully selecting these parameters, the propeller generates sufficient thrust with reduced power requirements, thereby lowering energy consumption while maintaining the desired propulsion capability.
4Strength
If hub width is increased to improve structural strength, then connection reliability improves, but drag behind the boat increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the hub structure into functional zones with varying thickness. The hub has a central region with sufficient width for structural strength and connection reliability, while the edges are tapered or reduced in width to minimize drag. This segmentation allows different parts of the hub to serve different functions optimally.
5Force
If blade pitch is increased to support motor torque, then torque capacity improves, but beyond certain pitch efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the pitch parameter within an optimal range that balances torque capacity and efficiency. The blade pitch is carefully selected to be sufficient to handle motor torque while avoiding excessive pitch values that would cause efficiency losses. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction by finding the optimal operating point.
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 design enhances thrust efficiency, reduces energy consumption, and extends propeller lifespan by minimizing wear and drag, while being adaptable for both forward and reverse motion and various fluid environments.
Implementation Method 1
The shape of the blades of existing propellers, which are generally arranged in relation to each other according to the screw principle, when they are intended for use in water, creates a depression on the extrados (i.e. the convex face) and an overpressure on the intrados (i.e. the concave face). The water is then ejected, thus creating thrust.
Implementation Method 2
In liquid media, most available propellers experience cavitation problems at high rotational speeds. Cavitation creates turbulence, which is far from optimal, since liquid flow is laminar under normal operating conditions.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a propeller (1) which comprises a hub (2) and a set of blades (4), characterized in that: - said hub (2) has a thickness substantially equal to that of the blades (4); - each blade (4) is connected to the hub (2) by an intermediate plate (3) which comprises a first edge (30) for connection to the hub (2) and a second edge (32) for connection to the associated blade (4), this second edge (32) having a length close or equal to that of the base (40) of the blade; - each of the plates (3) firstly forming, with one (23) of the two major faces (22, 23) of the hub (2), referred to as the "front face", the same first angle V of between 60 and 120° and, on the other hand, with each blade (4), the same second angle W of between 60 and 120°.