Trimable Impeller Blade Profile for Cost-Effective Mixing Adaptability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing impeller technologies are not cost-effective to produce in a range of diameters due to high mold and stock costs, limiting their adaptability to various mixing applications based on fluid volume, container shape, motor speed, and fluid viscosity.
Innovation Solution
An impeller design that can be trimmed to different diameters, featuring a hub and blades with specific trim profiles, allowing for customization while maintaining efficient mixing performance across various sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If impellers are produced in a range of diameters using conventional methods, then adaptability to various mixing applications is improved, but manufacturing cost increases due to mold and stock costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a single impeller blade that can serve multiple diameter requirements through selective trimming. The blade is manufactured with an extended profile that allows it to be trimmed to different diameters while maintaining proper flow angles, eliminating the need for separate molds and stock for each diameter size. This enables one blade design to fulfill multiple functions across different mixing applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the blade profile geometry to include an extended portion with specific flow angles (10-50 degrees for the trailing portion and 40-90 degrees for the outside portion). This extended profile allows the blade to be trimmed to different diameters while maintaining optimal flow characteristics. The key parameter change is the extended blade length that accommodates multiple diameter requirements from a single manufacturing process.
2Adaptability or versatility
If impeller diameter is reduced by trimming, then adaptability to different container sizes is improved, but mixing performance deteriorates due to increased power number and decreased flow number
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by designing different portions of the blade profile with specific flow angles optimized for their function. The trailing portion has a flow angle of 10-50 degrees and the outside portion has a flow angle of 40-90 degrees. When the blade is trimmed to a smaller diameter, the local quality of the remaining profile maintains the proper flow angles, ensuring that mixing performance is preserved despite the size reduction. This localized optimization of blade geometry at different positions maintains reliability across trimmed sizes.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional impeller trimming methods are used, then cost reduction is achieved, but flow patterns become inconsistent and fluid shear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by designing the blade profile with specific flow angles (10-50 degrees for trailing portion, 40-90 degrees for outside portion) that are maintained after trimming. This geometric parameter optimization ensures that when the blade is trimmed to a smaller diameter, the remaining profile still generates consistent flow patterns and maintains appropriate fluid shear characteristics. The extended profile with controlled angles compensates for the size reduction, preserving flow consistency.
Data Source
AI summary
An impeller includes a hub and a plurality of blades. Each blade extends out from the hub. The impeller has an original diameter defined by respective tips of the plurality of blades. Each blade includes a central axis, a leading edge, a trailing edge, an original profile, and a plurality of trim profiles. The original profile has an outside portion and a trailing portion. The outside portion has an angle within a range of about 40° to about 90° from the central axis and the trailing portion having an angle within a range of about 10° to about 50° from the central axis. A first selected trim profile of the plurality of trim profiles extends along a first line parallel to the outside portion and a second line parallel to the trailing portion.