Detachable Water Wheel Rotor Alignment Without Internal Fasteners
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydraulic power generation systems face challenges in maintaining efficiency and ease of maintenance, particularly in aligning and securing the rotor unit with the casing, which complicates component replacement and increases manufacturing costs due to the need for precise machining.
Innovation Solution
The water wheel design allows for a detachable rotor unit that can be easily aligned and secured externally, using a runner cover as a support to eliminate the need for internal fasteners and precise fitting structures, thereby simplifying maintenance and reducing manufacturing complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If the rotor unit is detachably attached from outside the casing, then ease of maintenance and component replacement is improved, but alignment precision and securing reliability may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The water wheel is divided into a casing and a detachable rotor unit, allowing the rotor unit to be removed and replaced independently from outside the casing. This segmentation enables easy maintenance without disassembling the entire device, directly improving ease of repair while maintaining securing reliability through dedicated attachment structures.
Solution Approach 2:
A support structure acts as an intermediary between the rotor unit and the casing, providing precise alignment and secure positioning. The support includes positioning protrusions and recesses that ensure accurate alignment during attachment, while also providing secure mechanical connection, thus maintaining both ease of maintenance and securing reliability.
2Manufacturing precision
If precise fitting structures are used to align the rotor unit with the casing, then alignment precision is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment function is segmented into separate positioning protrusions and recesses rather than requiring precision machining of entire mating surfaces. This allows alignment to be achieved through simpler, discrete features that are easier and less costly to manufacture while maintaining high alignment precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning protrusions and recesses are designed to automatically align the rotor unit with the casing during the attachment process, without requiring external alignment tools or complex adjustment mechanisms. This self-aligning feature achieves high precision while simplifying the manufacturing process.
3Reliability
If internal fasteners are used to secure the rotor unit, then securing reliability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening function is extracted from the interior of the device and implemented through external attachment structures. The rotor unit is secured from outside the casing using simple external fasteners or interference fits, eliminating the need for complex internal fastener systems and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining securing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using internal fasteners to secure the rotor unit from inside the casing, the attachment is performed from outside the casing. This inverted approach simplifies the internal structure, reduces device complexity, and maintains securing reliability through external attachment mechanisms.
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 maintainability by allowing easy replacement of components and reduces manufacturing time and costs, ensuring efficient energy conversion from water flow to rotational energy while maintaining watertightness and alignment.
Implementation Method 1
The running water guided to the runner rotates the runner, and is then discharged to the downstream through the draft bend
Data Source
AI summary
A water wheel includes a casing to carry a fluid flow through an inside of the casing, a pipe extending in the inside of the casing, a rotor unit having a shaft to be inserted in the inside of the casing, and a support. The shaft is directed toward the pipe. The rotor unit is detachably attached to the casing from outside. The support supports the rotor unit at a predetermined position relative to the pipe when the rotor unit is attached to the casing. A hydraulic power generation device includes the water wheel and a generator driven by the water wheel. A hydraulic power generation system includes the hydraulic power generation device and a flow path with the hydraulic power generation employed in the flow path.