Centrifugal Separator Rotor Spring Nesting
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing rotor design for centrifugal separators has a limitation where the shaft must protrude beyond the stacking attachment to accommodate the compression spring, reducing the available space for additional plates, thus limiting the number of plates that can be stacked without increasing the installation space or changing the individual plates.
Innovation Solution
A sleeve-shaped extension is integrated into the rotor design, allowing the compression spring to be housed within the stack of plates, thereby utilizing the previously unused space for additional plates, and incorporating a support surface for the spring's end on the extension's bottom, allowing more plates to be added without increasing the external size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the shaft protrudes beyond the stacking attachment to accommodate the compression spring, then the compression spring can be properly positioned and function, but the available space for additional plates is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The compression spring is nested within the stack of plates by positioning it inside the annular space formed by the shaft and the stack. The spring is arranged coaxially with the shaft and surrounded by the stack of plates, allowing it to be contained within the existing structural boundaries rather than requiring external protrusion space.
Solution Approach 2:
The compression spring is repositioned from an axial arrangement (requiring shaft protrusion) to a radial arrangement where it surrounds the shaft. This dimensional change allows the spring to utilize the annular space between the shaft and the stack of plates, converting unused radial space into functional space for the spring mechanism.
2Ease of manufacture
If the shaft protrudes beyond the stacking attachment to accommodate the compression spring, then the compression spring can be arranged on the shaft, but the installation space for plates is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The compression spring is nested within the stack of plates structure, utilizing the annular space between the shaft and the stack. This eliminates the need for the shaft to protrude beyond the stacking attachment, thereby preserving the full installation space volume for accommodating plates.
Solution Approach 2:
The arrangement of the compression spring changes from an axial position (requiring shaft protrusion) to a radial position surrounding the shaft. This parameter change in spatial configuration allows the spring to fit within the existing installation space without reducing the volume available for plates.
3Productivity
If the number of plates in the stack is increased, then the separation performance of the rotor is improved, but the external size of the rotor must be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The compression spring mechanism is nested within the existing rotor structure, specifically in the annular space between the shaft and the stack of plates. This allows additional plates to be added to the stack without requiring increased external rotor dimensions, as the spring mechanism no longer occupies axial space that would otherwise be available for plates.
Solution Approach 2:
By repositioning the compression spring to surround the shaft radially rather than extending axially, the invention utilizes previously unused radial space. This enables the axial length of the rotor to be fully dedicated to accommodating additional plates, thereby increasing plate count and separation performance without increasing external rotor size.
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
This design enables a noticeable increase in the number of plates within the same external dimensions, enhancing the separation performance of the rotor without requiring additional axial installation space or altering the existing plate design, thus improving the rotor's efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a compression spring (5) surrounding the shaft (11), with whose first end (51) it is supported on the shaft (11) and with whose second end (52) it compresses the stack of plates (2) on the stack attachment (4)
Implementation Method 2
a rotor of a centrifugal separator
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a rotor (1) of a centrifugal separator, wherein the rotor (1) comprises a central shaft (11) on which a plate stack (2) formed by multiple plates (20) is arranged in an axially moveable manner, wherein a stack base (3) is arranged on the shaft (11) under the plate stack (2), wherein a stack cap (4) is arranged in an axially moveable manner on the shaft (11) above the plate stack, and wherein the rotor (2) comprises a compression spring (5) surrounding the shaft (11), the first end (51) of which is supported on the shaft (11) and the second end (52) of which is supported on the stack cap (4), pressing together the plate stack (2). The rotor (1) according to the invention is characterised in that a sleeve-like extension (41) is arranged on the stack cap (4), projecting into the plate stack (20) and surrounding the shaft (11) with a separation, in that the compression spring (5) is located inside the extension (41), at least over majority of the axial length thereof, and in that a support surface (45) for the second end (52) of the compression spring (5) on the stack cap side, is arranged on a base of the extension (41).