Thermoelastic Assembly Guide Profile for Axial Deformation Cycles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy converters using thermoelastic elements face efficiency limitations and reduced service life due to geometric constraints and cyclic bending stress, which restricts the flexibility of loading and unloading profiles and leads to premature wear.
Innovation Solution
The energy converter employs a guide device with a profile element that allows the thermoelastic element to undergo cyclic elastic deformation and relaxation, enabling axial deformation without bending or shearing stress, and allows for a customizable contour to optimize efficiency and loading cycles, allowing both tensile and compressive loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the thermoelastic material is arranged between two co-rotating disks with an angle of inclination, then cyclic elastic tensioning and relaxation is achieved, but the loading and unloading profile is fixed and cannot be flexibly adjusted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the fixed geometric constraint of inclined disks with a dynamic guide device featuring a controllable profile. The profile can be adjusted to provide different loading and unloading characteristics, allowing the system to adapt to varying operational requirements while maintaining the cyclic tensioning and relaxation mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention enables change in the profile geometry of the guide device to modify the loading and unloading profile. By varying the profile parameters (such as curvature, slope, and shape), the system can achieve different elastic deformation patterns without changing the fundamental mechanical structure, thus improving adaptability.
2Reliability
If the thermoelastic material is inclined to the surfaces of the disks at the clamping points, then the cyclic tensioning and relaxation is achieved, but cyclic bending load occurs which reduces service life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful bending component by redesigning the guide device to apply loads purely in the longitudinal direction of the thermoelastic element. The guide profile is configured to ensure that the fastening element moves along a path that induces only axial tensioning and relaxation, eliminating the cyclic bending loads that were present in the disk-based system.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the potential harmful effect of geometric constraints into a beneficial feature by using a specifically designed guide profile. The profile geometry is optimized to guide the fastening element in a manner that not only eliminates bending loads but also enhances the cyclic tensioning and relaxation efficiency, thereby improving both reliability and performance.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the axial stroke is defined by the angle of inclination between two disks, then the deformation pattern is established, but a more flexible loading and unloading profile is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the static stroke limitation imposed by fixed disk inclination with a dynamic guide profile that can be adjusted to provide varying axial strokes. The profile geometry can be modified to achieve different deformation amplitudes and patterns, allowing flexible control over the thermoelastic element's cyclic deformation without being constrained by a fixed geometric angle.
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 enhances efficiency by allowing flexible configuration of the loading and unloading cycles, extends the service life by avoiding geometric constraints, and enables multiple cycles per rotation, improving the overall performance of the energy converter.
Implementation Method 1
Energy converters with active elements made of a shape-memory alloy enable the realization of alternative energy converters. These utilize caloric effects in ferroic materials
Implementation Method 2
a guide device coupled to the fastening element of the at least one thermoelastic element in order to cause a change in length of the at least one thermoelastic element in the longitudinal direction during a synchronous rotation
Data Source
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AI summary
The application relates to a thermoelastic energy converter (1), in particular a thermoelastic heating/cooling device, for use in an energy converter system, comprising: - a thermoelastic arrangement with at least one thermoelastic element (2) made of a thermoelastic material; - Two holding elements (3, 4), between which the at least one thermoelastic element (2) is arranged in the longitudinal direction; - a fastening element (6) for holding one end of the at least one thermoelastic element (2); - a guide device (7) which is coupled to the fastening element (6) of the at least one thermoelastic element (2) in order to compensate for a change in length of the at least one thermoelastic element (2) when the holding elements (3, 4) rotate synchronously relative to the guide device (7). To effect element (2) in the longitudinal direction, so that a cyclic elastic deformation and relaxation of the at least one thermoelastic element (2) is achieved.