Rotor Vane With Removable Insert for Cam Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
The design of rotor and vane assemblies in devices like compressors and rotary engines is limited by the engagement between the vane and the eccentric cam arrangement, which restricts the thickness of the vane, hindering optimal operation.
Innovation Solution
A vane with a transverse slot and a removably mounted insert, where the insert engages the slot's edges with legs and grooves, and a fastener secures it, allowing for improved engagement with the eccentric cam block, enabling wider support surfaces for enhanced operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If the vane is made as thin as possible to reduce weight and dead space, then weight and dead space remainder volume are reduced, but the engagement between the vane and eccentric cam arrangement is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The vane is divided into two functional parts: a thin plate body (for reduced weight and dead space) and a separate insert component (for reliable cam engagement). The insert is positioned within a slot in the vane plate and secured with a fastener, allowing the thin vane plate to maintain structural integrity while the insert provides the necessary engagement surfaces with the eccentric cam arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The insert acts as an intermediary element between the thin vane plate and the eccentric cam arrangement. It provides the necessary engagement surfaces and structural support for cam interaction without requiring the entire vane to be thick, thus enabling reliable engagement while maintaining the benefits of a thin vane design.
2Stress or pressure
If the vane thickness is reduced to lower pressure forces, then pressure forces are reduced, but the engagement between the vane and cam becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The vane structure separates the pressure-bearing function (thin plate) from the engagement function (insert with legs and grooves). The insert's legs engage with the cam arrangement to provide sufficient strength for cam interaction, while the thin plate body reduces overall pressure forces and dead space volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The vane assembly combines a thin plate body with a separate insert component secured by a fastener. This composite structure allows optimization of each component: the thin plate minimizes pressure forces while the insert provides robust engagement surfaces for cam interaction, achieving both reduced pressure and sufficient strength.
3Reliability
If a removable insert is added to improve engagement, then engagement with eccentric cam block is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vane is segmented into a plate body, a removable insert, and a fastener. The insert can be removed and replaced independently, allowing for maintenance and optimization of the engagement surfaces without replacing the entire vane. This modular approach improves engagement reliability while keeping the overall structure manageable through standardized components.
Data Source
AI summary
A rotor assembly has a vane which engages an eccentric cam block using an insert. The insert is removably attached to the vane. The vane is captured within a transverse slot in the rotor and executes reciprocal motion transversely to the axis of rotation of the rotor as the rotor rotates.