Functions

1.

Channel To control the motion, or path, of a material or energy flow.

(a)

Import To bring in an energy or material from outside the system boundary. Example: The geometric opening at the top of a blender pitcher is the solution to importing the solid (food). Similarly, a handle on a hand sander allows the importation of a human hand. In both cases an electric plug allows the importation of electrical energy to the system.

(b)

Export To send an energy or material outside the system boundary. Example: Pouring blended food out of a standard household blender is exporting liquid from the system. The opening at the top of the blender pitcher is a solution to the exportation of the blended food.

(c)

Transfer To shift, or convey, a flow from one place to another.

i.

Transport To move a material from one place to another. Example: To move a compact disc into the playing position in a multiple disc audio compact disc player is transporting a solid. In some compact disc players, a carousel transports the disc.

ii.

Transmit To move an energy from one place to another. Example: Transferring the electrical energy from the initial AC/DC converter in an audio compact disc player to the electrical motor that rotates the disc is transmitting the electrical energy. The transmission function is solved using a copper strand insulated wire.

(d)

Guide To direct the course of an energy or material along a specific path. Example: In a domestic HVAC system, gas (air) is guided around the house to the correct locations. The guide function solution is a set of ducts.

i.

Translate To fix the movement of a material into one linear direction. Example: In an assembly line, partially completed products are transported straight from one assembly station to the next. A common solution to this function is a conveyer belt.

ii.

Rotate To fix the movement of a material around one axis. Example: In an audio record player, the record may be rotated to move the stored information past the needle. The record rests on the turntable. The turntable rotates about a shaft.

iii.

Allow degree of freedom To control the movement of a material into one or more directions. Example: To provide easy trunk access and close appropriately, trunk lids need to move along a specific degree of freedom. A four bar linkage gives the trunk lid this degree of freedom.

2.

Support To firmly fix a material into a defined location, or secure an energy into a specific course.

(a)

Stop To cease, or prevent, the transfer of a material or energy. Example: The transmission of UV radiation through a window is stopped by applying a reflective coating to the window.

(b)

Stabilize To prevent a material or energy from changing course or location. Example: Rain gutters both guide the liquid and stabilize the kinetic energy of the liquid as it rushes off the roof.

(c)

Secure To firmly fix a material or energy path. Example: On a bicycling glove, a velcro strap is used to secure the human hand in the correct place.

(d)

Position To place a material or energy into a specific location or orientation. Example: The coin slot on a soda machine is used to position the coin to begin the coin evaluation and transportation procedure.

3.

Connect To bring two or more energies or materials together.

(a)

Couple To join or bring together an energy or material. Example: On a standard pencil, an eraser is coupled to the shaft. The coupling is performed using an metal sleeve that is crimped to the eraser and the shaft.

(b)

Mix To combine two materials into a single uniform homogeneous mass. Paint is mixed before application. The mixing is often performed using a paint shaker.

4.

Branch To cause a material or energy to no longer be joined or mixed

(a)

Separate To isolate a material or energy into distinct components. The separated components are distinct from the flow before separation, as well as each other. Example: Light is separated into different wavelength components to produce a rainbow. A glass prism can be used to perform this separation.

i.

Remove To take away a part of a material from its prefixed place. Example: Small pieces of the surface of wood are removed to smooth wood. The piece of wood are removed using an abrasive surface, often sandpaper.

(b)

Refine To reduce a material or energy such that only the desired elements remain. Example: Eliminating salt from water in a desalination process is a refinement of the liquid. Salt water is forced through a membrane, or filter, to eliminate the salt.

(c)

Distribute To cause a material or energy to break up. The individual bits are similar to each other and the undistributed flow. Example: Hair-styling liquids are distributed over the head to hold the hair in the desired style. An atomizer is used to distribute, or spray, the liquid.

(d)

Dissipate To break up and drive away or dispel. Example: In an automobile accident, the impact energy is dissipated to prevent injury to passengers. Automobiles use specially constructed bodies to dissipate impact energy.

5.

Provision To accumulate or provide material or energy.

(a)

Store To accumulate material or energy. Example: Energy is stored in a flashlight. A DC electrical battery us used to store the energy.

(b)

Supply To provide material or energy from storage. Example: In a flashlight, energy is supplied to the bulb. The energy is supplied by providing a voltage potential across the battery connections.

(c)

Extract To draw, or forcibly pull out, a material or energy. Example: Mechanical kinetic energy is extracted from the wind. The energy is extracted using an aerofoil.

6.

Control Magnitude To alter or govern the size or amplitude of material or energy.

(a)

Actuate To commence the flow of energy or material in response to an imported control signal. Example: Actuating the flow of electrical energy turns on a light bulb. The actuating is performed using a circuit switch.

(b)

Regulate To adjust the flow of energy or material in response to a control signal, such as a characteristic of a flow. Example: The liquid flowing from a faucet is regulated to allow different amounts of liquid to flow through. An adjustable valve is used to perform the regulation.

(c)

Change To adjust the flow of energy, or material, in a predetermined and fixed manner. In a hand-held drill, the electrical energy flow to the motor is changed thus changing the speed the drill turns. This change is done using a variable resistor.

i.

Form To mold, or shape, a material. Example: The end of a pencil lead is formed into the correct point to provide a pointed tip. The lead is shaped by positioning the lead cutting blades.

ii.

Condition To render an energy appropriate for the desired use. Example: To prevent damage to electrical equipment, electrical energy is conditioned by excluding spikes and noise from the energy path.

7.

Convert To change from one form of energy or material to another. For completeness, any type of flow conversion is valid. In practice, conversions such as convert electrical energy to torque will be more common than convert solid to optical energy. Example: A light-bulb converts electricity into light. In practice this is a two stage conversion. In an incandescent light, the electricity is converted into heat by a resistor, then the heat is converted into light by an incandescent material.

8.

Signal To provide information.

(a)

Sense To perceive, or become aware, of a signal. Example: An audio cassette machine senses if the end of the tape has been reached. A spring senses an increase in tension when the tape ends.

(b)

Indicate To make something known to the user. Example: A coffee maker indicates the level of water in the machine. A small window into the water container indicates the level to the user.

(c)

Display To show a visual effect. Example: A child's bubble mower toy displays entertainment signals. Brightly colored moving parts display the visual effect.

(d)

Measure To determine the magnitude of a material or energy flow. Example: A thermostat measures temperature. A bimetallic strip is used to measure the temperature.

 

Table 1: Basic flows.

Class	Basic	Complement
	Solid
Material	Liquid
	Human
	Gas
	Human	Motion, Force
	Biological
		Translation, Force, Rotation, Torque,
	Mechanical	Random motion, Vibration
		Rotational energy, Translational energy
	Electrical	Voltage, Current
	Hydraulic	Pressure, Volumetric Flow
	Thermal	Conduction, Convection
Energy	Pneumatic	Pressure, Volumetric Flow
	Chemical
	Radioactive
	Acoustic
	Optical
	Solar
	Magnetic	Magnetomotive Force, Flux Rate
	Status	Pressure, Temperature,
Signal		Position, Displacement
	Control

 

 

Table 2: Function classes, basic functions, and synonyms. Italics indicate a repeated synonym.

Function Class	Basic Function	Flow Restricted	Synonyms
Channel	Import		Input, Receive, Allow, Form Entrance, Capture
	Export		Discharge, Eject, Dispose, Remove
	Transfer
		Transport	Lift, Move, Channel
		Transmit	Conduct, Transfer, Convey
	Guide		Direct, Straighten, Steer
		Translate
		Rotate	Turn, Spin
		Allow DOF	Constrain, Unlock
Support	Stop		Insulate, Protect, Prevent, Shield, Inhibit
	Stabilize		Steady
	Secure		Attach, Mount, Lock, Fasten, Hold
	Position		Orient, Align, Locate
Connect	Couple		Join, Assemble, Attach
	Mix		Combine, Blend, Add, Pack, Coalesce
Branch	Separate		Switch, Divide, Release, Detach, Disconnect,
			Disassemble, Subtract, Valve
		Remove	Cut, Polish, Sand, Drill, Lathe
	Refine		Purify, Strain, Filter, Percolate, Clear
	Distribute		Diverge, Scatter, Disperse, Diffuse, Empty
	Dissipate		Absorb, Dampen, Dispel, Diffuse, Resist
Provision	Store		Contain, Collect, Reserve, Capture
	Supply		Fill, Provide, Replenish, Expose
	Extract
Control Magnitude	Actuate		Start, Initiate
	Regulate		Control, Allow, Prevent, Enable/Disable,
			Limit, Interrupt
	Change		Increase, Decrease, Amplify, Reduce, Magnify
			Normalize, Multiply, Scale, Rectify, Adjust
	Form		Compact, Crush, Shape, Compress, Pierce
Convert	Convert		Transform, Liquefy, Solidify
			Evaporate, Condense, Integrate, Differentiate,
			Process
Signal	Sense		Perceive, Recognize, Discern, Check, Locate, Verify
	Indicate		Mark
	Display
	Measure		Calculate