Sealed Fluid Machine Assembly with Differential Support Gaps

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Solution Overview

Problem

In sealed fluid machines with multiple sets of fluid machines linked via a common rotation shaft, the large shaft length leads to significant shifting of the shaft center due to thermal distortion during welding or crimping, resulting in decreased assembly precision and performance.

Innovation Solution

The method involves setting different gaps between the support members and the inner circumference of the sealed container for each fluid machine, with a larger gap for the first fluid machine and a smaller gap for the second fluid machine, allowing for precise adjustment of the shaft center by initially securing the second fluid machine with the smaller gap and then the first fluid machine with the larger gap, even when the shaft length is large.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If multiple sets of fluid machines are installed in a sealed container and secured thereto with welding or crimping, then the fluid machines can be securely fixed, but thermal distortion during welding or distortion during crimping causes considerable shifting of the shaft center, decreasing assembly precision

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecuring strengthVSAvoidshaft center position precision
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The support members are divided into two types with different gap dimensions (first support members with larger gaps S1, second support members with smaller gaps S2). This segmentation allows differential adjustment capability, where the larger gaps provide adjustment room for compensating welding or crimping distortion, while the smaller gaps provide stable positioning. The segmented approach resolves the contradiction by enabling both secure fixation and precision alignment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different gaps are provided at different locations within the sealed container. Specifically, support members at one end have larger gaps (S1) to allow for adjustment and compensation of distortion, while support members at the other end have smaller gaps (S2) for stable positioning. This local quality differentiation enables the system to simultaneously achieve secure fixation and maintain shaft center precision despite thermal or mechanical distortion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If the shaft length of the rotation shaft is large to connect multiple fluid machines separated by a predetermined gap, then the fluid machines can be properly spaced, but the rotation shaft becomes prone to shifting of the shaft center

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid machine spacingVSAvoidshaft center position precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The support members are preliminarily positioned with appropriate gaps before the final welding or crimping operation. The larger gaps (S1) are deliberately designed into the support member structure in advance, providing built-in adjustment capability. This preliminary action allows the shaft center to be adjusted and aligned correctly before the securing operation, preventing shaft center shifting even with large shaft lengths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The gap parameters of the support members are changed to have different dimensions (S1 > S2) at different locations. This parameter change creates an asymmetric gap structure that enables differential adjustment. The larger gaps provide the necessary adjustment range for long shafts, while the smaller gaps provide stability, thereby maintaining shaft center precision despite the long shaft length required for proper fluid machine spacing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 approach effectively reduces or prevents shaft center shifting, enabling precise assembly and higher performance of multiple fluid machines by adjusting the support members' positions, thereby maintaining assembly precision and enhancing the overall performance of the sealed fluid machine.

Implementation Method 1

a sealed fluid machine manufacturing method in which multiple sets of fluid machines are securely installed, via a support member by welding or crimping, in a sealed container

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWelding: Welding

Implementation Method 2

a sealed fluid machine manufacturing method in which multiple sets of fluid machines are securely installed, via a support member by welding or crimping, in a sealed container

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCrimping:

Implementation Method 3

shifting of the shaft center tends to become considerable due to thermal distortion during welding

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal distortion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentEP2330301B1Sealed fluid machine manufacturing method and sealed fluid machine
Publication Date: 2018.08.29 MITSUBISHI HEAVY IND THERMAL SYST
  • EP2330301B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2330301B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

It relates to a sealed fluid machine manufacturing method and a sealed fluid machine with which it is possible to reduce/prevent shifting of a shaft center and to precisely assemble multiple sets of fluid machines to achieve higher performance thereof, even if the shaft length of a rotation shaft is large. A sealed fluid machine manufacturing method (1) in which multiple sets of fluid machines (20, 30) are securely installed, via support members (22, 31), in a sealed container (2) and are separated from each other with a predetermined gap, wherein a gap between the support member (22) of the first fluid machine (20), which is one of the multiple sets of the fluid machines (20, 30), and an inner circumference of the sealed container (2), defined as (S1), and a gap between the support member (31) of the second fluid machine (30) and an inner circumference of the sealed container (2), defined as S2, are set to be S1 > S2, and the multiple sets of fluid machines (20, 30) are assembled by securely installing, first, the support member (31) of the second fluid machine (30) for which the gap (S2) is made small, in the sealed container (2), and then by securely installing the support member (22) of the first fluid machine (20) for which the gap (S1) is made large in the sealed container (2).