Swim Fin Blade Segmentation for Water Channeling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing swim fins and hydrofoils with scoop-shaped blades lack efficient water channeling in the opposite direction of intended swimming, leading to reduced propulsion and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A swim fin design featuring a blade member with a longitudinal alignment, a soft portion made of a relatively soft thermoplastic material, and a harder portion made of a relatively harder thermoplastic material, arranged to experience pivotal motion and deflection around a transverse axis, optimizing the angle of attack and water channeling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the blade is made rigid to maintain structural integrity, then strength is improved, but the ability to pivot and deflect to optimize water channeling deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The blade is divided into multiple segments or sections that can pivot relative to each other around a transverse axis. This segmentation allows the blade to maintain structural integrity while enabling pivoting motion to optimize water channeling during the kicking stroke.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic structure that can pivot and deflect during use. The blade is designed with movable portions that can change their angle of attack dynamically to optimize propulsion efficiency at different phases of the kicking motion.
2Power
If the angle of attack is increased to improve propulsion, then power is improved, but water channeling efficiency in the opposite direction deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The blade angle of attack is made dynamic rather than fixed. During the kicking stroke, the blade can pivot to reduce its angle of attack, allowing efficient water channeling in the opposite direction while maintaining propulsion power when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The angle of attack parameter is changed dynamically during use. The blade can adjust its angle from a higher propulsion angle to a lower water channeling angle, optimizing both propulsion power and water flow efficiency at different stages of the kicking motion.
3Productivity
If the blade is made flexible to improve water channeling, then propulsion efficiency is improved, but structural stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The blade structure is segmented into stable and flexible portions. The stable portions maintain structural integrity while the flexible portions can pivot and deflect to improve water channeling, achieving both stability and flexibility simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade may use composite materials or multi-layer construction combining rigid and flexible materials. This allows different portions of the blade to have different mechanical properties, maintaining overall structural stability while enabling local flexibility for improved water channeling.
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 propulsion efficiency by allowing the blade to pivot and deflect, reducing the lengthwise angle of attack, and improving water channeling, resulting in increased swimming speed and reduced energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
The relatively soft thermoplastic material is molded to the relatively harder thermoplastic material with a chemical bond created during at least one phase of an injection molding process
Data Source
AI summary
A method for providing a swim fin includes providing a foot attachment member and a blade member having a predetermined blade length. The blade member has a soft portion made with a relatively soft thermoplastic material. The method includes providing a relatively harder portion and the relatively soft thermoplastic portion that is molded to the relatively harder thermoplastic portion. The method includes providing an orthogonally spaced portion of the relatively harder portion that is arranged a predetermined orthogonal direction while said swim fin is in state of rest. The method includes providing the blade member with a predetermined biasing force portion that is arranged to urge the orthogonally spaced portion while the swim fin is in a state of rest. The method includes arranging a significant portion of the blade length to experience pivotal motion a lengthwise angle of attack during use.