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(11) | EP 0 375 586 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Aerodynamic casing which is adaptable shape depending on the action of the flow released |
| (57) It is a casing that is formed around a solid -1-, thanks to the fact that it is provided
with hairs, in such a way that the jet or layer of flowing medium released -5- shapes
the aforementioned casing, causing a wall to be formed which prevents the passage
of energy to the captive masses of flowing medium -4- achieving an energy savings
and doing away with vibration by means of this arrangement. |
CONDITION OF THE TECHNIQUE.
[0001] Everything that has been done, with regard to providing casings with an aerodynamic profile, has been to carry out research to obtain a profile design that best avoids the drag and vibrations which any solid is submitted to when submerged in a flowing medium.
[0002] By means of these aerodynamic profiles, the aim has always been to manage to AVOID SEPARATION of the flow medium, since in this way, the CONSEQUENCES of these FLOW SEPARATIONS could be avoided.
SUMMING UP.
AIM PURSUED WITH ANY TYPE OF AERODYNAMIC CASING.
[0004] In any case, when we have a solid submerged in a fluid stream, as far as possible, we try to avoid the drag effects and vibrations produced by the flow or layer of flowing medium released.
[0005] For this reason we always have in mind the idea of: AVOIDING FLOW SEPARATION AS FAR AS POSSIBLE.
[0007] With regard to the study carried out on the effects produced by the flow when it is released, we refer entirely to the explanation given in Invention Patent no. 88 03 135.
[0008] Jet or flowing medium separation is mainly due to excess curvature in the solid: the real problem arises when IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO AVOID SEPARATION, in specific solids, since it happens that A RIGID OR SEMIRIGID CASING IS NOT PERMITTED in the solid in question.
[0009] By means of example, without this meaning any restriction on the number of applications of what will later be defined as the object of the invention, a brief analysis of what occurs in a GOLF CLUB is given.
[0010] When a GOLF CLUB is handled, it can be considered as a solid which has two types of movement:
- Transfer movement, turning as a whole around the body of the player who is handling it.
- And simultaneously, rotation on its own axis.
[0011] Precisely, the existence of this second type of turning movement simultaneously with the first type, prevents the golf club from being provided with a rigid casing, since using a casing of this type would imply significant changes in the trajectory of the hitting head.
[0012] The example of the GOLF CLUB, leads us to focus the problem in the following manner:
- At the present time it is attempted to overcome flow separation, because of the effects implied in such separations. Dragging effects and consequent vibrations in the area around the solid.
- This could be achieved by designing a rigid or semirigid body.
- But the solid will not permit this type of casing.
- The problem would be solved, if it were possible to design an AERODYNAMIC CASING, in which its profile were capable of adapting itself as it received the ACTION of the flow and in spite of the fact that the solid suffered oscillations on its axis.
[0013] So the problem of aerodynamic profiles, as it is focussed nowadays, is geared towards the following:
[0015] By means of the Invention Patent proclaimed, we start from a different principle:
1. It is not concerned with avoiding flow separation.
2. It is simply concerned with avoiding the effects produced by flow separation.
3. The aim is to achieve an ADAPTABLE AERODYNAMIC PROFILE in such a way that it influencs the shape of the casing due to the ACTION OF THE FLOW RELEASED.
EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION.
[0016] Concerning functioning. In the case of the present invention, instead of speaking about functioning in itself, it would be more correct to speak of the behaviour of the different items.
[0018] We would have a solid -1- totally free of hairs -3-. The flow separated -5- would slip at constant pressure on an amount of flowing medium which had nothing to do with the general flow and to which it would be held -4- protected by the solid -1-
[0019] This is what would happen theoretically, but due to the force of friction due to the viscosity pressing down on this captive mass -4-, these masses start to rotate, generating other movements in turn in other captive nuclei practically giving rise to turbulence of variable intensity.
[0020] When the characteristics of the flow are carried out at high speeds, the nuclei released are less but in any case the following is produced:
- A loss of energy, due to collision of the jet -5- with the successive masses released.
- A loss of energy due to transmission of amount of movement from the layer released -5- to the captive nuclei -4-.
- Vibration due to the alternative collisions of the different nuclei released with the jet -5- and whose frequency will vary with the speed that the main flow has -7-.
[0021] BEHAVIOUR by introducing the items characteristic of the present invention:
- The solid is provided with hairs -3-, flexible hairs of an appropriate length which are distributed according to the best arrangement advised by circumstances.
- The hairs -3- can be a part of the solid -1- itself, but can also be provided in the solid in very different ways:
- By applying a cover with hairs to the casing of the solid.
- By applying a strip or strips -2- which have hairs attached to them.
[0022] Both the cover, as well as the strips, must be fixed to the solid casing -1- using suitable procedures.
[0024] There is no intention of the jet -5- being separated. In fact the aforementioned jet is SEPARATED.
[0025] The hairs -3- form a type of baffle, which produces a type of insulation between the jet -5- and the masses of flow medium which are held in -4-.
[0027] For the same reason, thanks to the baffle formed by the hairs -3- the passing of energy from the jet -5- to the aforesaid masses -4- is prevented.
[0028] Two remarkable effects have been achieved by this means:
- Dragging effects have been avoided, thanks to the energy savings, since there is no energy transmission from the jet -5- to the captive nuclei -4-.
- Vibration effects around the solid body -1- have been avoided, by avoiding separation of the captive nuclei -4-.
[0032] Since in spite of the fact that the solid -1- undergoes spinning or oscillations of type -6-, the flow -7- which continues, does not change the aerodynamic behaviour of the solid, since its casing adapts automatically, since it adjusts itself positionwise in order to achieve the best effects at all times.
[0033] - This is achieved thanks to the hairs -3- which due to their flexibility and total independence of each other, mean that the baffle that they comprise at all times, is suitable to the circumstances.
[0034] Besides, since the hairs are positioned independently of each other, the "flag" effect, which could give rise to other energy losses, is avoided.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ATTACHED DRAWINGS
[0035] With regard to what each of the figures used represents.
Figure 1. Cross-section of a solid with a circular cross-section, where it can be seen how the sheet -2- has been stuck on, with the corresponding hairs -3-. This view is a representation without having been submitted to a flowing medium.
Figure 2. Represents the case in which a cover -8- has been put on the solid and it is the former which is provided with hairs -3-.
Figure 3. Is the whole thing in which the solid itself has been provided with hairs, but a flowing medium -7- has already been represented.
[0036] The behaviour of the hairs is represented, adapting their design to the forces that can be transmitted by the flow separation layers.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE INVENTION,
[0039] Also pointing out the relationship existing between one item and another, both in order of functioning, as well as assembly.
1. Solid that is submerged in a flowing medium -7-, solid which can be provided with hairs, as represented in figure 3, but which can be a solid, which either receives one or more sheets -2- provided with hairs -3- or simply has a cover -8- which has hairs -3- on one side.
2. Sheet which acts as if it were a skin with hairs-3-. This item is fixed by conventional
means to the surface of the cylinder -1- and in whatever places are considered best.
This item can be a single strip, or several, since everything depends on whatever
method is required to position them in order to obtain the best effects.
3. Hairs with sufficient flexibility, distributed in the best manner, both on the surface of the cylinder -1- if the hairs belong to it, as well as on the sheet -2- or cover -8-.
4. Masses of fluid that are captivated, beside the leeward surface of the solid -1-.
The stability of these masses avoids vibrations, since it is precisely their release
that causes them.
5. Layer of flowing medium separated.
6. Possible rotations that the solid -1- can undergo. This oscillation would imply immediate automatic adjustment of the aerodynamic position of the hairs -3-.
7. Stream of flowing medium, within which the solid -1- is to be found.
8. Cover that will be provided with hairs -3-; this cover will in some cases serve to cover the solid -1- and in this way provide it with the hairs in question.
ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
[0040] with regard to the status of the previous technique.
- At all times comprise a casing which with its profile responds to a minimum loss of energy and thereby a remarkable reduction of the dragging force.
- In view of the position that the hairs -3- occupy at all times, comprise a wall which prevents transmission of energy from the layer of flowing medium released -5- to the captive mass of flowing medium -4-.
- To reduce the separation of masses of flowing medium -4- which are held, thereby reducing the consequent vibrations produced during separation.
- To allow rotation as per -6-, turning oscillations of the cylinder -1- on its axis, without substantialy altering the solid figure faced with the flow -7-.
- The independence of one hair from the other -3- avoids all flag effects that might occur and consequently avoids new energy losses in this direction.