Unitary Polymer Impeller Eliminates Fasteners
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agitators for large containers often require multiple components and fasteners, which can lead to complexity and potential issues with metal-to-metal contact, especially when agitating fluids in steel drums.
Innovation Solution
A unitary impeller agitator with a single-piece construction, where the blades are integral with the hub and made from synthetic polymer, such as nylon, eliminating the need for welds or fasteners, and designed for containers with volumes ranging from 10 to 100 gallons.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a multi-component impeller with fasteners is used, then the structural strength is improved, but the device complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple impeller components (blades and hub) into a single unitary structure made from synthetic polymer. This integration eliminates the need for separate fasteners and assembly operations, resolving the contradiction by achieving both structural integrity and assembly simplicity through monolithic construction.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If metal-to-metal contact components are used, then the structural durability is improved, but the harmful factors (corrosion, contamination) increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from metal to synthetic polymer, eliminating metal-to-metal contact entirely. This material substitution maintains structural durability through the properties of the synthetic polymer while eliminating harmful factors such as corrosion, galvanic action, and fluid contamination associated with metal components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs synthetic polymer as a composite material that combines the necessary mechanical strength and durability with chemical resistance. This material choice provides both structural integrity and immunity to corrosion and contamination, resolving the contradiction between durability and harmful factors.
3Ease of manufacture
If a unitary construction impeller is used, then the ease of manufacture and reduced assembly are improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical assembly processes (fastening, welding) with a molding process that creates the unitary structure in a single operation. This substitution of manufacturing methodology achieves both ease of manufacture and adequate precision through the capabilities of modern injection molding or similar forming processes for synthetic polymers.
Data Source
AI summary
An agitator for being disposed in a container and rotated to agitate fluid in the container includes a shaft and an impeller attached thereto. The shaft, being supported relative to the container, provides an input for attachment of a rotation mechanism for causing rotation of the impeller and shaft. The impeller includes an impeller body defined by a hub portion for receiving and being mounted to the shaft, and a plurality of blades extending radially outwardly from a longitudinal axis of the hub portion. The impeller body is a single piece of unitary construction, such as where the plurality of blades are formed in a manner that the blades are integral with the hub portion at the formation of the blades.