Peripheral tunnels propeller with alternative balance

Abstract

This disclosure is related with propeller noise and cavitation abatement in applications like propulsion, ventilation, pumping or turbine systems on fluids by novel techniques that allows stronger propellers with improved laminar flow by means of a propeller which consists on a rotating cylindrical block or a truncated substantially conical block with one or more tunnels around it rotational axis, said block also may have flow-guiding structures at both ends that help to keep the fluid's laminar flow when it is mixing fluids with its environment, having the rotating block tunnels with either substantially circular shaped cross-section or variable shape cross-section from substantially circular to irregular oval measured in perpendicular plane to the rotational axis whereby it smoothly accelerates fluid or gas by means of either centrifugal or axial movement, also including Dynamic Balance or Imbalance or Torque Modulation Means that modulate specific vibrations which generates sound waves.

Claims

1. A propeller comprising a truncated substantially conical block spinning around a rotation axis, said conical block having a plurality of holes as helical tunnels surrounding the rotation axis, each of the holes having inlet and outlet at each end face of the conical block, respectively, wherein each end face of the conical block is disposed at each end of the conical block, said conical block having a plurality of flow-guiding structures attached to the ends, said flow-guiding structures comprising an aerodynamically chamfered wedge disposed at each end face and among ends of the holes, said chamfered wedges having a base at the respective end face, said wedges base having a cross-section substantially shaped as an annular sector having concave ends, each end congruent with a semi cross-section of an adjacent one of the tunnels, said wedges cross-section varying progressively its shape at one of the concave ends until said end is shaped convex and is congruent with an opposite one of the concave ends as a base plane rises above the respective end face, Whereby rotation of the conical block induces minimal turbulence on the perpendicular momentum of the fluid inside each respective hole thus avoiding collateral noise and delaying the cavitation phenomena.

2. A propeller as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said conical block having integrated a Dynamic Balance Means, said Balance Means integral to the conical block and disposed about the rotational axis of said conical block, said Balance Means having a function for a periodically Balance or Imbalance, whereby the propeller generates a specific sound wave.

3. A propeller as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said conical block having integrated a plurality of Dynamic Balance Means, Said Balance Means having a function for a periodically Balance or Imbalance, said Balance Means integral to the conical block and disposed about the rotational axis of said conical block, said Balance Means being distributed complementary, where the resultant Balance or Imbalance is compensated and only a periodic torque modulation is introduced to the propeller, whereby the propeller generates a specific sound wave.

4. A propeller comprising a truncated substantially conical block spinning around a rotation axis, said conical block having a plurality of holes as helical tunnels surrounding the rotation axis, each of the holes having inlet and outlet at each end face of the conical block, respectively, wherein each end face of the conical block is disposed at each end of the conical block, said conical block having permanently integrated at least one Dynamic Balance Means, said Balance Means integral to the conical block and disposed about the rotational axis, said Balance Means having a function to balance or Imbalance at specific periods, whereby the propeller generates a specific sound wave.

5. A propeller as claimed in claim 4 further including: The at least one Dynamic Balance Means including, a plurality of said Dynamic Balance Means, said Balance Means having a function to balance or Imbalance at specific periods, said Balance Means integral to the conical block and disposed about the rotational axis, said Balance Means being distributed complementary, where the resultant Balance or Imbalance is compensated and only a periodically torque modulation is conveyed to the propeller, whereby the propeller generates a specific sound wave.

6. A propeller comprising a truncated substantially conical block spinning around a rotation axis, said conical block having a plurality of holes as helical tunnels surrounding the rotation axis, each of the holes having inlet and outlet at each end face of the conical block, respectively, wherein each end face of the conical block is disposed at each end of the conical block, said holes having cross-sections with substantially circular shape at one end which progressively reshape into an ellipsoidal shaped cross-section at an opposite tunnel end, and said cross-sections lie in constant perpendicular plane to the rotation axis from end to end, said conical block having a plurality of flow-guiding structures attached to the ends, said flow-guiding structures described as aerodynamically chamfered wedge disposed at each end face and among the ends of the holes, said chamfered wedges having a base at the respective end face, said wedges base having a cross-section substantially shaped as an annular sector having concave ends, each end congruent with a semi cross-section of an adjacent one of the tunnels, said wedges cross-section varying progressively its shape at one of the concave ends until said end is shaped convex and is congruent with an opposite one of the concave ends as a base plane rises above the respective end face, Whereby rotation of the conical block induces minimal turbulence on the perpendicular momentum of the fluid inside each respective hole thus avoiding collateral noise and delaying the cavitation phenomena.

7. A propeller as claimed in claim 6 wherein: said conical block having integrated a Dynamic Balance Means, said Balance Means integral to the conical block and disposed about the rotational axis of said conical block, said Balance Means having a function for a periodically Balance or Imbalance, whereby the propeller generates a specific sound wave.

8. A propeller as claimed in claim 6 wherein: said conical block having integrated a plurality of Dynamic Balance Means, Said Balance Means having a function for a periodically Balance or Imbalance, said Balance Means integral to the conical block structure and disposed about the rotational axis of said conical block, said Balance Means being distributed complementary, where the resultant Balance or Imbalance is compensated and only a periodic torque modulation is introduced to the propeller, whereby the propeller generates a specific sound wave.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1a and FIG. 1b are a perspective and side views respectively of a Quiet Propeller of the present invention;

(2) FIG. 1c is a cross-section view at the A-B line in FIG. 1a of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 1d is a cross-section view at the C-D line in FIG. 1a of the present invention;

(4) FIG. 1e is a cross-section view at the E-F line in FIG. 1a of the present invention;

(5) FIGS. 2a to 2c are a perspective, front and side view respectively of a Multifunction Dynamic Balance or Imbalance/Torque Modulation Means in a Quiet Propeller of the present invention.

(6) FIG. 3a and FIG. 3b are a perspective and side views respectively of an alternate embodiment to the propeller depicted from FIGS. 1a to 1c but having a substantially conical build and variable shaped tunnels cross-section starting from circular at one end progressively reshaping to a substantially ellipsoid shape at the other end.

(7) FIG. 3c is a cross-section view at the G-H line in FIG. 3a of the present invention;

(8) FIG. 3d is a cross-section view at the I-J line in FIG. 3a of the present invention;

(9) FIG. 3e is a cross-section view at the K-L line in FIG. 3a of the present invention;

(10) FIG. 4a and FIG. 4b are a perspective and side views respectively of an alternate embodiment to the propeller depicted from FIGS. 1a to 1c but having substantially circular shaped cross-section with an progressively increasing area from end to end.

(11) FIG. 4c is a cross-section view at the M-N line in FIG. 4a of the present invention;

(12) FIG. 4d is a cross-section view at the O-P line in FIG. 4a of the present invention;

(13) FIG. 4e is a cross-section view at the Q-R line in FIG. 4a of the present invention;

(14) FIG. 5a is a perspective view of a Flow Guide Structure (referenced as structures 4 in all embodiments and as structure 5 by embodiments depicted by FIGS. 4a to 4c); FIGS. 5b to 5d are sectional cutout of said flow guide structure all in parallel plane to the structure base, which is in perpendicular plane to the rotational axis of the propeller.

(15) FIG. 6a is a perspective view of a Flow Guide Structure (as structure 5 in FIGS. 1a and 1n embodiment depicted by FIG. 3a) in a propeller having tunnels with irregular oval cross-section at the output, FIGS. 6b to 6d are sectional cutout of said flow guide structure all in parallel plane to the structure base which is in perpendicular plane to the rotational axis of the propeller.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(16) Referring now to the drawings in more detail, in FIG. 1a and FIG. 1b there is shown a cylindrical block 1 having, in its preferred embodiment, multiple peripheral holes as spiraling tunnels 2 with inlet and outlet ends. An inner shaft 3 provides rotation guide and torque to spin the cylindrical block. Fluid guide structures 4, 5 are located at each end. The cylindrical structure on its preferred embodiment ends on a conical or spherical structure 6, the Lines A-B, C-D, E-F defines a reference plane perpendicular to the rotational axis which cross-section is detailed on FIG. 1c, FIG. 1d and FIG. 1e, the illustrator also depicts the active dynamic imbalance means, comprised by mass 9, ring 8, actuator 7 and the control hub 10.

(17) In more detail, still referring to the same embodiment, FIG. 1c depicts the tunnel's cross section 2 as Circular at the A-B line (input end), FIG. 1d depicts the cross-section of the same tunnel cross-section 2 semi-circular at the C-D line, FIG. 1e depicts the cross-section 2 as irregular ellipsoidal flattened in direction to the rotational axis in the same tunnel at the E-F line (output end).

(18) The shape of each tunnel section 2 at the A-B Line, C-D line or the E-F line is measured in perpendicular plane to the rotational axis, while this embodiment names it as a irregular ellipse as final shape, is understood that the final shape could be any ellipse variation or ellipse-like shape, in the preferred embodiment the ellipsoidal shape is relatively flatten in direction to the propeller's rotational axis, FIG. 1e also depicts the actuator 7 positioned between a pair of adjacent tunnel inside the gap among them.

(19) FIG. 2 depicts an embodiment for a Multifunction Dynamic Balance or Imbalance/Torque Modulation Means as a movable mass 9 mounted on a ring 8 distributed about the propeller block 1 (shown in FIGS. 1a, 1b) along with its actuators or reposition means 7, and controls hub 10 (where the accelerometer are installed to monitor the propeller balance and calculate then the right mass position to balance the system), the power means is not shown (i.e. electrical control means or mechanic linkages) but is understood the device should be powered properly, while this preferred embodiment depicts an multifunction dynamic balance or imbalance/torque modulation means specific to be installed on configurations like peripheral tunnels propellers taking advantage of the gap among adjacent tunnels and its external cylindrical perimeter, is understood this feature could be implemented with almost any Active Dynamic Imbalance system suitable to modify its control means, as long it can fit inside the gap among adjacent tunnels and the cylinder perimeter, in this propeller among the multi-purpose characteristic of the Active Dynamic Imbalance device, another novelty is to install such devices using the gap space among each tunnel pairs avoids operational turbulence and protects the system from damage due contact on or with external objects.

(20) Still referring to the Multifunction Dynamic Imbalance or Balance system, this specific configuration being installed two sets of active dynamic imbalance system near each end is due the specific and particular characteristic inherent to all the peripheral tunnel propellers, the Imbalance could vary along the propeller chord, being more Imbalanced near some end than the other, so for a proper effective Imbalance, the system requires specific balance actions different at each end, the location of the Multifunction Dynamic Imbalance system control hub unit is shown here close to the propeller shaft behind the cone, while this is an ideal location for such system is understood other suitable arrangements are possible as distributing the unit along the actuators or in other locations attached or not to the propeller, even at remote locations outside the propeller itself.

(21) Referring to FIG. 3a there is shown an alternate embodiment to the propeller depicted by FIGS. 1a to 1c with Conical build having multiple peripheral holes 11 as spiraling tunnels with inlet and outlet ends. The Lines G-H, I-J, K-L defines a reference plane perpendicular to the rotational axis which cross-section related to tunnel 11 is detailed on FIG. 3b, FIG. 3c and FIG. 3d.

(22) Referring to FIG. 4a there is shown an alternate embodiment to the propeller depicted by FIG. 1a having a Truncated Substantially Conical block having multiple peripheral holes 12 as spiraling tunnels with inlet and outlet ends. The Lines M-N, O-P, Q-R defines a reference plane perpendicular to the rotational axis which cross-section related to tunnel 12 is detailed on FIG. 4b, FIG. 4c and FIG. 4d.

(23) In more detail, still referring to the same embodiment of FIG. 4c, FIG. 4d and FIG. 4e depicts the tunnel's cross section 12 as Circular at the M-N, O-P, Q-R line (from end to end).

Operation

(24) The invention achieves its goal to accelerate a fluid by spinning it inside a camber (tunnel 2,11,12) driven by shaft 3 and by both combined centrifugal and axial movement it accelerates the mass of fluid from the input end to the output end. The tunnels have the particularity that each section matches the circular momentum of the molecules, avoiding parasite sound waves due to wall collision, and thus keeping Reynolds numbers at laminar flow levels. The input and output structures 4 and 5 provide paths for input and output of the fluids through the tunnels 2,11,22 and blend smoothly with the environment. The physical structure of the cylindrical block is inherently so strong that material stress just can't make sound waves or the environment easily attenuates such waves at elevated frequency and low decibels. Other elements such as the conical structure 6 help to keeps the fluid at laminar flow conditions.

(25) The Multifunction Dynamic Balance or Imbalance/Torque Modulation Means 7, 8, 9, 10 consist on any Active Dynamic Balancer device suitable to be permanently installed on the propeller and suitable to have a modified control system which modification consist that at certain propeller angles or sectors generates arbitrary balance or un-balance conditions so the Active Dynamic Balancer corrects this actually nonexistent un-balance or balance conditions with periodical harmonic Imbalance, this Imbalance could be used as source for sound-waves which are useful either to disguise the machine or to cancel or disguise some of the machine natural sounds, i.e. from propeller rotating from 0 to 90 the Balancers is set to balance the propeller, from 90 to 180 the balancer control unit is modified to Imbalance the propeller by 0.1 G then from 180 to 270 the balancer is set again to balance the propeller and so on, thus the propeller having two times per revolution a 0.1 G vibration also its possible on some Active Dynamic Balancer to induce virtual un-balance without actually Imbalance the propeller but inducing variation on the propeller momentum this way effectively modulating Only the torque with similar goals create specific sound waves on the propeller for either disguise or cancellation of the machine natural sound, this functionality requires a propeller where it can be embedded without modification to its functional shape as the peripheral tunnel propeller aforementioned.

(26) Although the embodiments shown include all features, the applicant specifically contemplates that features 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 disclosed herein may be used together or in combination with any other feature on any embodiment of the invention. It is also contemplated that any of the cited features may be specifically excluded from any embodiment of an invention.

Construction

(27) The construction details of the invention as shown in FIG. 1a, FIG. 3a and FIG. 4a are the block 1 could be made from fiber glass reinforced composites, metal alloy, ceramics, reinforced concrete, and any material suitable for fabrication of such pieces. The shaft 3 could be made of the same material as the block 1 or from higher strength materials such as steel. If made from a different material, the block 1 must be built around a previously machined shaft 3. The input and output structures 4 and 5 maybe made from the same material the cylindrical block 1. Conical structure 6 is made from the same material as the cylindrical block 1. In the preferred embodiment, the cylindrical block 1 and the intake and exhaust structures 4 and 5 and the conical structure 6 all are built as a single body.

(28) The Cylindrical block 1 could if desired be integrated with an Multifunction Dynamic Balance or Imbalance/Torque Modulation Means, as the basic Active Dynamic Balancer system 7,8,9,10 optimally installed using the gap among each pair of adjacent tunnels, but its control system is modified to receive periodic arbitrary input signals by suitable means according the desired sound, the Balancer/Un Balancer system maybe mechanical, fluidic or electro-mechanical as on as the Balancer System from prior art, but this system besides the desired Imbalance patterns receives indication from a sensor on the propeller shaft about the propeller rotational angle, then compares it to the desired un-balance or un-balance and introduces signal to the balancers system accordingly the opposite desired un-balance, suitable Active Dynamical Balancer system suitable for this purpose include without limitation those in prior art with: Moving masses, reciprocating masses, rods pulley, liquid masses, as long those system receive some input suitable to be modified on described purpose.

(29) Intake and exhaust structures 4 and 5 maybe defined as a aerodynamically contoured chamfer, having a shape as an annular sector extended among the contiguous adjacent tunnels, said shape at its base is concave at each immediate tunnel side and congruent with the immediate tunnel's semi cross-section which correspond to the gap among the adjacent tunnels where it is disposed, as the structure extends from its base, the shape in parallel planes to the structure's base is progressively reshaped by varying progressively one concave side up to shaping it as convex and congruent with the opposite concave side until it conforms a single edge with the shape of a concave line, this concave line maybe symmetrically or asymmetrically disposed among the tunnels.

(30) The advantages of the present invention include, without limitation: Quieter operation, very strong structure on a wide variety of materials not suitable on other designs, resiliency to damage due the permanent availability of an active balance system and the materials it allows to use on its manufacture, capability to generate specific sound waves useful to disguise other noises or cancel it. The present invention is environmentally friendly minimizing injuries to humans or animals in the surrounding environment by presenting continuous surfaces on both the exterior structure and interior tunnels.

(31) The invention size depends on specific applications: The cylindrical block 1 maybe as small as 2 millimeters or less, and as big as 50 meters or more limited only by the fabrication process. The longitudinal proportion depends on the length of tunnels 2,11,12 required to accelerate the fluid just below the cavitation inertial limit. The number of tunnels 2,11,12 in the preferred embodiment, are six in a single row not being limited to these numbers and maybe one or more tunnels, distributed on one or more tunnel rows.

(32) While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.