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40 Inventive Principles
Local Quality

a) Transition from a homogeneous structure of an object or it's surrounding medium (external influences) to a heterogeneous structure.

b) The various parts of the object should fulfil different functions.

c) Each part of the object should function under conditions which are most suitable for its operation.

d) Adapt the individual properties or parts of the object to the required local conditions.
 

EXAMPLE:
  1. To combat dust in mines, a fine spray of water is applied directly to the working parts of the machinery. The smaller the droplets are, the greater is the effect in combating the dust. The small water droplets however cause a mist to form in the immediate area, which reduces the visibility. To prevent this from happening, the fine spray is surrounded by a curtain of larger droplets from a different nozzle, which then effectively suppresses the formation of the mist.
  2. Creating a self-centring form tool by using a temperature field. In the production of seamless tubes, a hot, cylindrical billet is penetrated by a pointed forming tool (piercing plug). In order to prevent the piercing plug from wandering inside the tube, the outside of the tube is cooled. This causes a favourable temperature distribution within the tube: cold (hard) on the outside – hot (soft, easily penetrable) towards the centre.