Fluid Machine Runner With Plane Contact Surfaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

The production of runners for fluid machines with double curved blades requires complex machining and tight tolerances, making the process time-consuming and costly due to the intricate contact surfaces between the blades and the runner hub or ring.

Innovation Solution

Introducing plane contact surfaces between the double curved socket portions of the blades and the runner hub or ring, with a contact body positioned between these surfaces to simplify the assembly and reduce the need for precise matching profiles, utilizing plane contact surfaces that are perpendicular to the fixing elements to enhance stability and load capacity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If double curved surface areas are used for blade contact with runner hub, then the blade can be securely fixed, but the machining and inspection work becomes time consuming and costly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblade fixation reliabilityVSAvoidmachining and inspection time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The contact surface is segmented into multiple localized plane contact surfaces rather than a single large double curved surface. This segmentation allows each contact surface to be machined independently with standard tolerances, significantly reducing machining time and inspection requirements while maintaining secure blade fixation through multiple contact points

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of requiring the entire contact surface to have precise double curved geometry, the invention applies plane contact surfaces at specific localized positions where the blade bears against the runner hub. This local quality approach maintains the necessary fixation reliability at critical points while allowing the rest of the surface to be manufactured more simply

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If double curved surface areas with close tolerances are used, then the blade contact precision is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblade contact surface precisionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The contact interface is divided into multiple discrete plane contact surfaces, each requiring only standard machining tolerances. This segmentation eliminates the need for expensive precision machining of large double curved surfaces while achieving adequate contact precision through the distributed nature of the contact points

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the geometric parameters from double curved surfaces with close tolerances to plane surfaces with standard tolerances. This parameter change maintains the functional requirement of secure blade contact while dramatically improving ease of manufacture and reducing costs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Force

If the blade socket portion bears on the runner hub surface area, then the load distribution is achieved, but the complexity of the contact geometry increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload distributionVSAvoidcontact geometry complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The load-bearing contact area is segmented into multiple localized plane surfaces distributed across the blade-runner hub interface. This segmentation provides adequate load distribution through multiple contact points while using simple plane geometry instead of complex double curved surfaces, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces a contact body as an intermediary element between the blade socket portion and the runner hub. This contact body simplifies the overall geometry by providing a standardized interface that distributes loads effectively while avoiding the complexity of precision-machined double curved contact surfaces

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3303824B1Runner for a fluid machine having removable blades
Publication Date: 2020.02.12 DYNAVEC
  • EP3303824B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3303824B1 patent drawingFigure 3~7
  • EP3303824B1 patent drawingFigure 8~10

AI summary

Runner (1) for a fluid machine where the runner (1) includes a runner hub (2) and one or more curved blades (6), and where the blade (6) is removably fixed to the runner hub (2) by fixing elements (20) that extends into a double curved first socket portion (14) of the blade (6), and where the first socket portion (14) bears against the runner hub (2) at one or more contact surface (30) that is plane.