TRIZ-CHANCE | DO WE REALLY UNDERSTAND GEOMETRY?

So, we have established, that there are a lot of geometric effects (GE), that are either unknown to technical workers, particularly the younger ones, or are actually reproduced in other technical sectors. Therefore, to improve the coefficient of useful action "geometric knowledge" of an engineer, the inventor rationalist must form an index of geometric effects. But how can this be done?

There is experience of such a work. This is G.S. Altshuller's creation of the Theory of Invention Problem Solving (TRIZ). Here one must be governed by three simple principles, but as experience shows, these are not always taken into consideration by designers and teachers of technical design methods:

research must be based on a large collection of technical and patent information;
the existence of different qualitative levels of the technical solution must be taken into consideration;
recommendations should be tested on a significant number of tasks at a high level (so far as to imitate the best and not merely average models).

     Let's examine these requirements in greater detail. In fact, since 1960, for every one hundred thousand inventions in the national patent fund, there must be 15-20 that are not completely trivial solutions, of which the spiral to mind. However, for each of the ellipsoid, hyperboloid and paraboloid type shapes, this figure does not exceed 2-3. This means, that it does not make sense to create a GE Directory using a complete survey of even several tens of thousands of inventions. Large volumes are necessary for the procedure. This work has been carried out (and is still in progress) by the author.

     Over 1,200,000 national and foreign formulae for inventions and patents were examined in total during the manuscript's preparation. (The engineering and technology behind this examination is a separate and interesting matter).

     Practical testing of recommendations for the GE Directory is carried out in technical design schools and in a number of qualifications' and skills' institutes, during implementation of the function and cost analysis phase (FCA).

     Now comes the following question: how should the GE Directory best be organised? Let's tackle this question using the example of how one item in the Directory is written.

     An age-old method exists that can be used to remove a ring relatively simply from your finger that is too tight. A thread is pushed under the ring from the side of the hand and wound thickly around the finger in a spiral, proceeding from the ring, then to the joint and then to the top of the finger. Next, when you reach the top of the finger, once pushed under the ring, the thread starts to unravel. The ring them comes off easily as a result of the movement and the pressure there on the finger...

     So here we have Pat. Cert. N. 899277: ''A compression device for porous items with an aperture''. Previously, to obtain apertures in granules, made for stamping and punching, a rod of the required diameter was inserted. After the granules had been stamped and had caked together, they took out the rod, or to be more exact - tried to take it out. In reality the porous items buckled and broke, as when the rod was being removed considerable effort was applied….The author's evidence brought a protected idea to mind: a spiral is wound around the rod and then after compression has been applied, it is unwound spirally. Using this procedure the items themselves would remain undamaged. Like in the example of removing the ring, force is applied only on that part of the structure that has much less relation to the substance of the item, and not to the structure as a whole. We note that it is also possible to produce curvilinear apertures using this method.

     Lets turn our attention to a different sector of technology: the manufacture of asbestos-cement components. These are rolled by a roller specially designed for asbestos. In contrast to asphalt asbestos-cement sticks to the roller, and therefore the rolled surface has dents and potholes. A solution to this problem is outlined in Pat.Cert.N 188874: one end of the roller is reinforced with a spiral, and the other end of the roller is left free, bending round the roller several times. During rolling the spiral unwinds in its place, sharply changing its curvature and discharging superfluous material… So let's note here that these solutions, similar to the above, are also mentioned in Pat. Cert. N. 174974, 334006, 558736, 1040066, 1068291, 1082504 etc.

     So what does this mean? It means that once that you have analysed a number of inventions it is possible to draw out some common principles; so say specialists in methods of technical design and devices. In this instance they would say: "If one has to remove harmful interaction from macro-surfaces, a flexible body is wound round one of them, following which force is applied to each of its points."

     In the current GE Directory sections are completed according to the principle "Geometrical shape and its technical function."

     The index at the end of the directory is set out in the reverse principle: "Technical function - and geomforms bringing it to life." (This material was only published in the book and is not on the site - note I.L.Vikentyev).

     Lets illustrate how to use this table. Supposing we need to find a form that will enable us to change its limited volume several times. We would open the "Index of possible GE applications", find the function - regulation of volume, alongside reference -5.12, 10.7. We read these points on the GE Directory and realise that the telescoping of the spiral from the roll and (or) the binding of the single-strip hyperboloid of revolution may help us. If we want to find out more about the technical details of these solutions, then we must refer to the literature, a list of which is outlined in each section.

     It should be stressed however that you can find the basic principles and solution ideas using the GE Directory, but not the desired construction itself and all its details. It is important to understand the position of GE in the TRIZ information fund.

     As opposed to chemical effects, which enable you to obtain some substances from others by the absorption or isolation of energy, or physical effects that enable you to transform one form of energy into another, GE usually redistributes flows of energy and substances that are already present.

     The creation of a GE directory is an important but interim phase of the project. It is now already clear that future work for its development will be carried out in the following areas:

     We'll stop at nothing in each of these areas.

     Analysis of the patent fund has shown that, strange as it may seem, geometry in technical systems is developing not in the form of "even more" geometry but in the direction of synthesis with energy and technical control systems. For example, it would seem, in order to increase the mass-heat volume the washed surface must be increased and increased, in particular, to transfer from spiral walls in apparatus to spiral-waffles. But this is simply "geometric" solution is unrealistic, or has been made without taking energy considerations into account: in the given instance expenditure for friction increase significantly…The inventor of № 242 "Conformity of changing heat exchange on channel walls with discreet turbulization of current at the required convection" found a waffle profile and their mutual location which would not bring about significant energy losses while simultaneously increasing heat exchange significantly.

     The "Geometric Spatial Operator" designed by I.L. Vikentyev repels the transformation of traditional forms in accordance with physical processes in the technical system and external environment, enabling more complete use of system resources (for more details see: Vikentyev I.L. Geometric Operator // Theory and practice of teaching technical design, Chelyabinsk, 1988, pages 51-53).

     The following direction - material field resources and GE.
     The fact is that form is a creative resource that is practically everywhere, but is extremely rarely used effectively. Usually, the use of form enables us to maximise the redistribution of the flow of energy and substances that are already present in the technical system or the external environment.

     Lets confirm this by using examples. The first is historical. The road that runs along the slope to the gates of the mediaeval castle in Tallinn, was designed so that the approaching traveller had to turn his right-hand side to the castle. This was done with the purpose of "removing" the right hand of attackers, who would have needed it to hold their shield…Another example. When a ship is launched from the slipway the end may go under the water and strike the bottom. One of the common methods for solving this problem is to attach cumbersome and expensive pontoons to the body of the boat, which provide additional buoyancy. A more attractive solution is possible: according to Pat.Cert.N 441195, wings can be fastened to the bow of the vessel. This creates hydrodynamic lifting power from the moment it comes into contact with the surface of the water. By increasing the launch speed the lifting power of the wings increases, thereby preventing any mishaps.

     The synthesis of non-classical geometric forms.
     One can indicate three main mechanisms through which "duplication" of the forms occurs:

     а) geomform-1 ± geomform-2, when one of the forms can be a cavity.

     Fig. 2.1 shows a "wedge + wedge" structure, which in contrast to an ordinary wedge allows displacement in three directions (Pat. Cert.N. 312974).

Fig. 2.1 Fig. 2.2

Question: how do you control the hyperbolic or parabolic profile? You have to make a corresponding template... Run to the workshop, give an order to the metal worker... According to Pat.Cert.N.491462 this can be much simpler: make a cone and cut a mould from this. If the surface of the cut is parallel to the model you have a parabol, if it is perpendicular to the base - then you have a hyperbol (Fig. 2.2);

b) geomform + revolving and/or forward movement

Fig. 2.3

It seems that if circles or ellipses are placed on the axis at an incline and mirrored in relation to each other, then the zigzag trail that is formed when they wobble creates an additional support for carrying methods of transport- Fig. 2.3 (Pat Cert N. 414144, 573382);

     c) geomform + physical (or chemical) effect

     Examples for combining geometric forms with physical effects have been outlined sufficiently in the Directory itself, therefore we will limit our examples here to just one solution.

     According to Pat.Cert.N. 1116218 the working wheel of a pump is proposed where the blade acts as the edge of the section between the wet and dry parts of the disc surface. (see Fig. 2.4).

Fig. 2.4

Hydraulic resistance in a direction perpendicular to the section is greater than along it, therefore the liquid will disseminate along the section edge, i.e. the edge acts as a blade with infinite small dimensions. Of course the productivity of a pump of this kind is small, but the author would like to mention that this example is reminiscent of the combination of geometry and physics.

     And the final area - the problem of classifying geometrical effects.

     At present this comes under the functional sign. A more precise principle for classification has not yet been found. Besides, questions of ordering classification are an eternal problem for any form of information system, in so far as the speed of "reducing" information usually lags behind the speed of its accumulation. The design of the GE Directory is far from complete, and we invite all those who wish to participate.

     In conclusion let us note that the most complete mathematical properties of various geometric figures are outlined in [1] and [3]. In books [2] and [4] the interested reader will find information on the history of geometry and discover its connections with other sciences.