Abstract:
Method for configuring the constituent elements of hollow helical wheels or their cages, which is based on using geometrical figures whose centers serve as reference for constructing them and defining their areas. Values of angles, offsets of the centers, and pitches, make it possible to control all the constituent elements.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     Hollow wheels and their hollow cages are devices which enable transfers of fluid, exploitation of the energy they contain, or use of the forces they exert. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     The development of hollow wheels and their static cages has been slowed due to their very complex forms, which must be designed and adapted for each concerned application, and until now it was not possible to design them easily in quantity in order to be able to test and optimize them. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a simplified cross-section portion of the surface of revolution swept by the inner and outer edges (A B) of a hollow helix ( 1 ), and (D C) of its static cage 
         FIG. 2  shows a wheel realized according to the configuration principle described above. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Computer-aided design and manufacturing (CADM) offer new possibilities, and this tool is used here to amplify the innovative ideas which will make it possible to advance the knowledge of hollow wheels and their static cages. 
     This invention is the tool which makes it possible to create and design hollow wheels and their static cages very quickly by very easily changing all of their specific data so as to assist the acquisition of knowledge of these new products for the many concerned applications. 
     The complex evolutive forms of the multiple “constituent elements” of the structure of the hollow wheels and static cages are also called: vanes, blades, partitions, scoops, leaves, grates, valves, spacers, . . . and are all grouped here under the name “constituent elements”. 
     This method for configuring hollow wheels ( 1 ) and their static cages ( 2 ) includes the following CADM (computer-aided design and manufacturing) steps: 
     It is first necessary to enter the fundamental configuration parameters offered: the traditional mechanical elements such as shafts, nozzles, bushings, bearings, supports, making it possible to incorporate the wheels and cages into their application setting, the dimensional values such as overall length, interior and exterior diameters, the quantity of each constituent element, it is also necessary to determine the directions of rotation chosen. 
     It is then necessary to enter the mathematical parameters corresponding to the known geometric shapes which will determine the exterior and interior revolution surfaces swept by the wheels, or those of the cages which contain the wheels, and the exterior shapes of the cages. They are preferably round, cylindrical, conical, ogival, elliptical, etc. in shape, formed alone or connected, 
     Determination of the evolutive pitches of the helical constituent elements, which are defined either by conventional mathematical formula, or preferably through indication of at least two given values on specified points placed on the length of the hollow helical wheels ( 1 ) and their static cages ( 2 ) follows. 
     Several specific characteristics of this invention concern the new method of configuring profiles and other data, unique to each constituent element of helical or circular shape. At least one cross-section is used to define the profile of each element. 
     A first novelty consists of designing each leading and trailing edge ( 3  and  4 ) using portions of geometric figures which have a reference center ( 5  and  6 ), and then connecting them using portions of geometric figures which also have a reference center ( 7  and  8 ), and thereby defining the areas of the body of the evolutive constituent elements. 
     A second novelty consists of indicating an offset value of the position of the centers in order to obtain a hollow depth deformation ( 10 ), preferably concave or convex, of the body of the areas of the evolutive constituent elements. 
     A third novelty consists of indicating the thickness of the web of the constituent elements which is represented by a circle the center of which serves as a reference ( 9 ). 
     A fourth novelty consists of indicating an angular offset value ( 11 ) ( 13 ) between the centers of the interior leading or trailing edges, relative to the exterior leading or trailing edges of the constituent elements preferably making it possible to offset and couch the interior edges relative to the exterior edges. 
     A fifth novelty consists of indicating an angular offset value ( 12 ) between the centers of the leading or trailing edges, or interior and exterior edges, respectively, of the helical constituent elements so as preferably to make it possible to offset and position them relative to each other. 
     A sixth novelty consists of determining at least 2 pitch values for the helices, which are provided for at least two positions specified on the length of the wheel or the cage, and are then smoothed by the software. 
     The configured profiles are then displayed, enabling local visual checking. 
     In order to finish the concerned elements the cross-sections are then positioned on at least two points specified on the length of the wheel or the cage so that they are then smoothed by the software. 
     The final display resulting from mixing of all of the helices and radial partitions with each other allows a final visual check ( FIG. 2 ). 
     In case of dissatisfaction, it is possible to backtrack and correct the parameters in order to optimize the results. 
     A device for continuous checking of the compatibility of the values of the introduced parameters is integrated into the method in order to avoid aberrations. 
     Drawings are attached for information and non-limitingly, and the descriptions are voluntarily diagrammed in order to facilitate understanding of these complex forms. 
     The drawing  FIG. 1  illustrates a simplified cross-section portion of the surface of revolution swept by the inner and outer edges (A B) of a hollow helix ( 1 ), and (D C) of its static cage 
     The drawing illustrates a portion of cross-section of the wheel where the leading or trailing, exterior ( 3 ) and interior ( 4 ) edges of an element are shown flat. It shows the area of the body of the element which is delimited by one leading or trailing edge, finished by a circle portion ( 5 ), and by the other leading or trailing edge, which is finished by a diagonal rib portion ( 6 ). The drawing shows that the leading or trailing edges are connected to each other by two large circle portions which are tangent to them ( 7  and  8 ), thereby completely defining the area of the element. The drawing shows that the value given to the circle located in the middle of the element ( 9 ) makes it possible to define its thickness. The drawing shows that the given value for the offset of the aforementioned circle with the straight line connecting the centers of the leading and trailing edges ( 10 ) indicates the depth of the hollow of the element. The drawing shows the angular offset between the leading edges and the trailing edges ( 11 ). The drawing shows the angular offset given for two helices ( 12 ), preferably of different pitches, which then combine when the meet up in their journey. 
     The drawing  FIG. 2  shows a wheel realized according to the configuration principle described above. The principle described according to the provided drawings is applied in the same way to static cages, casings and grates ( 2 ), and will therefore not be the subject of additional drawings. 
     A method for configuring hollow helical wheels, comprising: providing at least one evolutive helical element; forming a leading edge of the evolutive helical element in the shape of a portion of a first selected geometric figure having a first reference center; forming a trailing edge of the evolutive helical element in the shape of a portion of a second selected geometric figure having a second reference center; and forming a web between the leading edge and the trailing edge, the web having an interior surface and an opposing exterior surface, the interior surface being in the shape of a portion of a third selected geometric figure having a third reference center, and the exterior edge being in the shape of a portion of a fourth selected geometric figure having a fourth reference center; wherein the distance from a central axis to each reference center is selectively chosen so as to tailor the shape of the evolutive helical element. 
     The method, wherein the steps are carried out on a computer-aided design and manufacturing computer having a microprocessor, programmable software, memory, at least one input device, and a display having lighting elements, such that the lighting elements are transformed to display different images in response to selected changes input by a user to the geometric figures and the distances from the central axis to the reference centers. 
     The method, wherein the steps are carried out on a computer having a microprocessor, programmable software, memory, at least one input device, and a display having lighting elements, such that the lighting elements are transformed to display different images in response to selected inputs by a user to the shape of the geometric figures and the distances from the central axis to the reference centers. 
     The method, wherein the steps are carried out on a computer-aided design and manufacturing computer system having a microprocessor, programmable software, memory, at least one input device, and a display having lighting elements, such that the lighting elements are transformed to display different images in response to selected changes input by a user to the geometric figures and the distances from the central axis to the reference centers.