Logical Design Method and its Application in the Design of a Compressed Air Engine
The logical design method developed in this paper stems from the first two phases and part of the third phase of the mechanical engineering design process. This research work had as research goal; developing a method that will facilitate the commencing of any design project in mechanical engineering. The approach used here is proven to be sustainable as it builds up constructively the design in question using theoretical tools and some demonstrative/figurative techniques that gradually highlight just the essential components necessary to the design in question. The first phase of the method is a mere identification of the problem which should be seen in the introductory chapter as the problem statement then elaborated in the literature review before being summarized under the subtitle of the identification of the need/problem in the body of the designing project proper. Though the lengthy introduction and literature review for the case study was not put on this paper, the summary of the identification of the need is what we see and the impact of that exercise to the steps that follow is eminent in the end results. The second phase; the definition of the problem, is studied in details on this paper with some tools applied for a better interpretation of the results. In the third phase, the synthesis; just the functional analysis, automation of the functioning of the design and conceptual sketches are elaborated in the application demonstration. The end result of the use of this method is the logical design of a compressed air engine. This clearly unveils the design of an engine that is powered and lubricated solely by compressed air.
