TRIZ Methods for Resolving Systemic Contradictions

Various lists of inventive principles have been published since the early 20th century. Authors of these publications included the principles they considered best, often without considering the nature of these principles. As a result, lists of methods aimed at improving technical systems were often mixed with methods focused on improving human activity in solving tasks. None of these lists received significant application. The situation changed dramatically only in the 1950s-60s with the emergence of TRIZ, and the concept of "technical contradiction."

A technical (systemic) contradiction in TRIZ refers to a situation where attempting to improve one characteristic of a technical system results in the deterioration of another characteristic. For example, increasing the strength of an aircraft or rocket's structure increases its weight, or improving the accuracy of a measuring device makes its circuitry more complex.

Analysis of large patent databases showed that there are 40 key principles, or inventive methods, that provide effective solutions for resolving approximately 1,500 of the most common technical contradictions.

In the inventive workshop, these methods serve as a primary toolkit, and using them requires certain skills. In the simplest case, an inventor simply reviews the list of principles (one by one) to find a clue for solving their problem. This method is slow but certainly feasible.

For more efficient use of the principles, a special table has been developed, in which the characteristics of the technical systems that need to be improved are listed vertically, and the characteristics that cannot be worsened are listed horizontally. Where the rows and columns intersect, the numbers of the principles that are most likely to resolve the technical contradiction are indicated.

40 Principles for Resolving Technical Contradictions

Method 1: Principle of Segmentation

a) Divide the object into independent parts;

b) Make the object disassemblable;

c) Increase the degree of segmentation of the object.

Example 1:

American specialists struggled with the problem: how to install a sensor (a vertical rod) that signals an avalanche? An avalanche (a mixture of snow and rocks) sweeping down the mountainside destroys everything in its path. Should we secure it more firmly? They tried. It was still swept away. Finally, they accidentally came up with the idea of “breaking the sensor beforehand” — introducing a hinge into the design. Such a segmented sensor does not resist the avalanche but follows it. After the avalanche, it is ready for operation again.

Example 2:

A machine for removing shells from boiled eggs won a gold medal at an invention exhibition in Geneva. It’s not easy to peel a couple of hundred boiled eggs for a cafeteria! How does the machine work? Very simply: the shell cracks and is carried away by a water stream. And for this, it got the medal? Yes, because previously, instead of a neat stream, clumsy and unhygienic metal claws were used. We hope the reader noticed: in both cases, to achieve a new design, the device was “broken” beforehand. So don’t be afraid to mentally break down the original machine! This is a standard inventive technique. By the way, when should we break something down?

The Answer: To answer this question, it is helpful to know the “chain of segmentation”:

Chain of Segmentation:

    MATERIAL → MONOLITH

    v

    1, 2, 3... HINGES

   v

    MATERIAL IN THE FORM OF SEPARATE PARTS

    v

    RAKE STRUCTURES

   v

    LOOSE BODY, DROPS

    v

    ELASTIC MATERIAL

    v

    LIQUID

    v

    SHELL, POROUS MATERIAL, FOAM

    v

    GAS

  v

    FIELDS

Example 3:

Can a new Chernobyl be avoided, even if the staff of a nuclear power station breaks the operating rules at the reactor? Some physicists believe: yes, if instead of one reactor, several smaller ones are built. They will use such a small amount of nuclear fuel that, under the worst circumstances, the reactor casing will never melt.

Here, segmentation is applied again... But the reader may be puzzled: in one case, we simply introduced a hinge into the design (avalanche sensor), in another case, we broke the original “metal part” all the way down to a liquid (egg cleaning solution), and here, we just split one reactor into several. Let’s clarify: look at the new TRIZ rule — the “chain of segmentation” and remember it. It turns out you can break things down to liquid or gas, or simply divide the original system into several independent parts.

What Else Should Be Known?

"Everything flows, everything changes," said the ancient Greeks. But we see that machines really change, and the law of their transformation — the “chain of segmentation” — remains unchanged. So, let’s break things down!

Example 4:

A fence is needed for a sheep pen. On one side, it should contain the sheep, but on the other hand, if one of the sheep breaks free, it should only allow that one sheep to escape without breaking the entire fence — otherwise, the others will escape too. What analog task does this problem remind you of? And should the fence be broken down to the level of foam, gas, or...? Of course, breaking the fence down to atoms would be pointless. It’s enough to make a simple hinge, and the sheep will break through without breaking the fence, and the spring will return the post to place (author’s patent USSR No. 1389809).

Example 5:

US Patent No. 2859791. A pneumatic tire consisting of twelve independent sections. The tire is segmented to increase reliability.

Example 6:

The bucket of a single-bucket excavator with a continuous semi-circular cutting edge, distinguished by the fact that for the purpose of quick and easy replacement, the continuous cutting edge is made of separate removable sections.

Example 7:

The method of continuous destruction of rocks using explosive charges, distinguished by the fact that to obtain small fractions, the continuous destruction of the surface layer is carried out with microcharges.

Method 2: Principle of Taking Out

Separate the "interfering" part (or "interfering" property) from the object, or conversely, isolate the single necessary part (the necessary property).

Example 1:

USSR Patent No. 153533. A device for protection against X-rays, distinguished by the fact that, in order to protect the head, shoulder girdle, spine, spinal cord, and gonads of a patient during fluorography (for example, chest X-rays), it is equipped with protective barriers and a vertical rod corresponding to the spine, made of a material that does not allow X-rays to pass through. The feasibility of this idea is obvious. The invention isolates the most harmful part of the X-ray stream and blocks it.

Example 2:

We often consider many objects as a set of traditional and inseparable parts. For example, a helicopter includes fuel tanks. Indeed, a typical helicopter must carry fuel. However, in cases where the helicopter flies along a specific route, the fuel can be left on the ground. In the case of an electric helicopter, the gasoline engine is replaced by an electric motor, and there are no fuel tanks at all.

Example 3:

Collisions between airplanes and birds sometimes lead to severe accidents. In the USA, various methods of scaring birds away from airports have been patented (mechanical scarecrows, spraying naphthalene, etc.). The best solution turned out to be playing the loud sound of frightened birds, recorded on a tape recorder. Separating the bird’s cry from the birds is, of course, an unusual solution, but it is characteristic of the principle of taking out.

Method 3: Principle of Local Quality

a) Transition from a homogeneous structure of the object (or external environment, external impact) to a non-homogeneous one.

b) Different parts of the object must have (or perform) different functions.

c) Each part of the object must be in conditions that are most favorable for its operation.

Example 1:

USSR Patent No. 256708. A method for suppressing dust in mining workings, distinguished by the fact that, in order to prevent the spread of fog through the workings and to avoid its removal from the dust generation source by the ventilation flow, dust suppression is performed simultaneously with fine and coarse dispersion water, with a film of coarse dispersion water created around the cone of fine dispersion water.

Example 2:

USSR Patent No. 280328. A method for drying rice grains, distinguished by the fact that, to reduce the formation of cracked grains, the rice is divided by size into fractions before drying, and the fractions are dried separately under differentiated conditions.

The Principle of Local Quality is clearly reflected in the historical development of many machines: they gradually became segmented, and optimal local conditions were created for each part.

Example 3:

Initially, a steam engine consisted of a cylinder that performed both the functions of a steam boiler and a condenser. Water was poured directly into the cylinder. The fire heated the cylinder, the water boiled, and the steam lifted the piston. After that, the furnace with the fire was removed, and the cylinder was sprayed with cold water. The steam condensed, and the piston, under the action of atmospheric pressure, moved downward. Later, inventors realized the need to separate the steam boiler from the engine cylinder. This significantly reduced fuel consumption. However, the exhaust steam was still condensed in the cylinder itself, causing significant heat loss. The next step was to separate the condenser from the cylinder. This idea was proposed and implemented by James Watt. Here’s what he said: “After thinking about the issue in every way, I came to the firm conclusion: in order to have a perfect steam engine, the cylinder must always be as hot as the steam entering it. However, the condensation of steam to create a vacuum should occur at a temperature not exceeding 30 degrees... It was near Glasgow, and I was taking a walk around noon. It was a beautiful day. I was walking past an old laundry, thinking about the machine, and approaching Herd's house when it occurred to me that steam is an elastic body and easily rushes into a vacuum. If I could connect the cylinder to a reservoir of rarefied air, the steam would rush there, and there would be no need to cool the cylinder. I hadn't yet reached Hoffhaus when the whole thing was settled in my mind!"

Method 4: Principle of Asymmetry

a) Transition from a symmetrical form of the object to an asymmetrical one;

b) If the object is already asymmetrical, increase the degree of asymmetry.

Machines are born symmetrical. This is their traditional form. Therefore, many tasks that are difficult when dealing with symmetrical objects can be easily solved by violating the symmetry.

Example 1:

A vise with offset jaws. Unlike a regular vise, this design allows for clamping long workpieces in a vertical position.

Example 2:

Car headlights must work under different conditions: the right one must shine brightly and far, while the left one must be positioned to avoid blinding the drivers of oncoming vehicles. The requirements are different, but the headlights were always installed in the same way. Only a few years ago, the idea of asymmetrical headlight installation emerged: the left headlight illuminates the road up to 25 meters, while the right headlight shines much further.

Example 3:

US Patent No. 3435875. An asymmetrical pneumatic tire has one sidewall with increased strength and resistance to impacts against the curb of the sidewalk.

Method 5: Principle of Unification

a) Connect homogeneous or related objects intended for similar operations;

b) Combine homogeneous or related operations in time.

Example 1:

USSR Patent No. 235547. The working equipment of a rotary excavator, including a rotor and a boom, is designed with a device to heat frozen soil, with nozzles mounted, for example, on sectors at both ends of the rotor, to reduce the cutting effort.

Example 2:

USSR Patent No. 134155. A rescue diving device for bringing people to the surface from air pockets in the compartments of sunken ships, using helmet masks, is designed to improve the efficiency of the rescue operation. It consists of one or two helmet masks, equipped with hoses and fittings for connection to a nozzle valve mounted on the diver's suit, from which air flow to the helmet masks is regulated.

Method 6: Principle of Universality

The object performs several different functions, eliminating the need for other objects.

Example 1:

In Japan, there is consideration for the construction of a tanker equipped with an oil refining unit. The concept of this project is to combine the processes of transportation and processing of oil, happening simultaneously.

Example 2:

USSR Patent No. 160100. A method for transporting material, such as tobacco leaves, to drying facilities using a water flow in a hydraulic transporter. The method is distinguished by the fact that, to simultaneously wash the tobacco leaves and fix their color, water heated to 80-85°C is used.

Example 3:

USSR Patent No. 264466. A memory element on a thin cylindrical film applied to a dielectric substrate. The element is distinguished by the fact that, for simplification, the film itself serves as the reading-writing bus.

Method 7: Principle of "Matryoshka" (Nested Dolls)

a) One object is placed inside another, which, in turn, is inside a third, and so on;

b) One object passes through cavities in another object.

Example 1:

USSR Patent No. 186781. An ultrasonic concentrator of elastic vibrations, consisting of half-wave segments connected together. The concentrator is distinguished by the fact that, in order to reduce its length and increase its stability, the half-wave segments are made in the form of hollow cones inserted into each other.

Example 2:

USSR Patent No. 110596. A method for storing and transporting heterogeneous viscosity petroleum products in a floating tank. The method is distinguished by the fact that to reduce heat loss of high-viscosity petroleum products, they are stored in compartments within the tank that are surrounded by compartments filled with low-viscosity petroleum products.

Example 3:

USSR Patent No. 272705. A device for applying fertilizers to the soil, including a hopper and right- and left-handed dosing screws. The device is distinguished by the fact that to regulate the working width of the coverage, each dosing screw is made from two sections screwed into each other.

Method 8: Principle of Anti-weight

a) Compensate for the weight of the object by connecting it with another object that has lifting power;

b) Compensate for the weight of the object by interacting with the environment (due to aerodynamic or hydrodynamic forces).

б) компенсировать вес объекта взаимодействием со средой (за счет аэро- и гидродинамических сил).

Example 1:

USSR Patent No. 187700. A method for lowering and extracting shooting and explosive equipment from a well, distinguished by the fact that, in order to reduce costs and simplify shooting and explosive operations, the shooting and explosive equipment is lowered freely under its own weight, and lifting to the surface of the well is performed using a built-in jet engine in the body.

Example 2:

When creating ultra-powerful turbo-generators, a complex problem arose: how to reduce the pressure of the rotor on the bearings. The solution was found by installing a powerful electromagnet above the turbo-generator, compensating for the pressure of the rotor on the bearings.

Example 3:

Sometimes, the opposite problem has to be solved: compensating for a lack of weight. When creating and operating mining electric locomotives, there is a clear technical contradiction: to increase traction, the locomotive needs to be made heavier, but to reduce its dead weight, it should be made as light as possible. A group of employees from the Leningrad Mining Institute developed and successfully implemented a simple device that allowed them to resolve this technical contradiction and increase the productivity of mine locomotives by one and a half times: a powerful electromagnet is installed in the leading wheels; a magnetic field is created, covering the wheels and rails; the adhesion force increases sharply, while the weight of the locomotive can be reduced.

Method 9: Principle of Preliminary Anti-action

a) Pre-apply stresses to the object that are opposite to the undesirable or unacceptable working stresses;

b) If the task requires performing some action, perform an anti-action beforehand.

Example 1:

USSR Patent No. 84355. A turbine disk blank is placed on a rotating pad. The heated blank compresses as it cools. However, centrifugal forces (while the blank has not yet lost its plasticity) "stamp" the blank. When the part cools, compressive stresses appear in it. This principle is the basis for the entire technology of pre-stressing reinforced concrete: to make the concrete perform better under tension, it is pre-shortened. This is perhaps the only case where construction techniques use more advanced methods than mechanical engineering. Pre-stressed constructions are still rare in mechanical engineering, while their use could bring enormous benefits.

Example 2:

How can you make a shaft stronger without increasing its outer diameter? The solution to this task is as follows: the shaft is made of tubes inserted one into the other, which are pre-twisted at specific calculated angles. In other words, the shaft is pre-deformed in the opposite direction to the deformation it will undergo during operation. The torque must first remove this pre-deformation, and only then will the shaft deform in the "normal" direction. The composite shaft weighs half as much as a regular solid shaft of the same strength.

Method 10: Principle of Preliminary Action

a) Perform the required action beforehand (fully or at least partially);

b) Arrange objects in advance so that they can be put into action without the need for time to deliver them, and from the most convenient location.

Example 1:

USSR Patent No. 61056. Cuttings of many fruit, berry, and other crops planted in soil do not root due to a lack of nutrients in the cutting itself. This invention proposes to create a nutrient reserve in advance by soaking the cuttings in a nutrient solution bath before planting.

Example 2:

USSR Patent No. 162919. A method for removing gypsum bandages using a wire saw, distinguished by the fact that to prevent injury and ease the removal of the bandage, the saw is placed inside a tube that is pre-lubricated with an appropriate lubricant, made, for example, from polyethylene, and is then pre-cast under the bandage when applied. Thanks to this, the bandage can be sawed off from the body outward — without the risk of injuring the body.

Example 3:

A curious case of using this principle is the painting of wood before it is cut down: dyes are absorbed under the tree’s bark and distributed by the sap throughout the trunk.

Method 11: Principle of the Pre-laid Cushion

Compensate for the relatively low reliability of the object by using pre-prepared emergency means.

Example 1:

USSR Patent No. 264626. A method for reducing the toxic effects of chemical compounds using additives, distinguished by the fact that, to reduce the danger of poisoning from chemical substances, as well as their transformation products in the body, the additives are introduced directly into the initial toxic chemical compounds during their manufacturing.

Example 2:

USSR Patent No. 297361. A method for preventing the spread of forest fires by creating firebreaks made of plants, distinguished by the fact that, to make the plants forming the firebreak fire-resistant, biologically absorbable or chemical elements are introduced into the soil that slow down the ignition process.

Example 3:

US Patent No. 2879821: A rigid metal disk, pre-installed inside an automobile tire, allows the vehicle to continue moving on a deflated tire without damaging the tread.

Example 4:

Due to frequent cases of lost books in American libraries, inventor Emanuel Trikilis proposed hiding a small piece of magnetized metal inside the bookbinding. When the book is issued, the librarian demagnetizes the metal insert by passing the book through a special electric coil. If a visitor tries to leave with an unregistered book, the hidden device in the door will react to the magnetic insert in the binding.

Example 5:

A mountain rescue station in Switzerland applied a similar method for quickly locating people trapped in an avalanche. Now, a skier or local resident, in an area with frequent avalanches, carries a small magnet. In the event of an accident, the magnet helps easily locate the victim using a detector, even under a three-meter layer of snow.

Method 12: Principle of Equipotentiality

Change the working conditions so that there is no need to lift or lower the object.

Example 1:

USSR Patent No. 264679. A device for moving molds in the press area. The device is designed as an attachment mounted on the press table with a roller conveyor.

Example 2:

USSR Patent No. 110661. A container ship where the cargo is not lifted into the hold but is instead raised slightly by a hydraulic drive and placed on a supporting bracket. This type of vessel works without a crane and is capable of transporting much taller containers.

Method 13: Principle of "Reverse"

a) Instead of performing the action dictated by the conditions of the task, perform the reverse action;

b) Make the moving part of the object or the external environment stationary, and the stationary part moving;

c) Flip the object “upside down,” invert it.

Example 1:

USSR Patent No. 184649. A method for vibrational cleaning of metal products in an abrasive medium, distinguished by the fact that, to simplify the cleaning process, the vibration is applied to the workpiece (instead of the abrasive).

Example 2:

USSR Patent No. 109942. This invention solves the important problem of casting large, thin-walled parts. When casting such parts, it is desirable for the metal to enter the mold from above, and solidification should occur from the bottom up. However, casting metal into the mold (using the "rain" method) is only permissible from a height of no more than fifteen centimeters, otherwise the metal will burn or absorb gases. What should be done when the mold is two to three meters high? If the metal is fed from below, the first portions will solidify before they can rise to the upper part of the mold. The inventor solved this problem simply and elegantly: the metal travels through tubes lowered to the bottom of the mold. As the mold fills, it moves downward, ensuring that each portion of metal is delivered exactly where it needs to solidify. Metal was traditionally poured in such a way that the metal moved, and the mold remained stationary. Here, everything is reversed: the mold moves while the metal poured into it remains stationary. This allowed the “incompatible” to be combined: smooth filling of the mold and metal solidification from the bottom up, as in the “rain” method of casting.

Method 14: Principle of Spheroidality

a) Transition from straight parts to curved ones, from flat surfaces to spherical ones, from components made in the form of a cube or parallelepiped to spherical constructions;

b) Use rollers, balls, spirals;

c) Transition from linear motion to rotational motion, using centrifugal force.

Example 1:

German Patent No. 1085073. A device for welding pipes into a pipe grid, in which the electrodes are rolling balls.

Example 2:

USSR Patent No. 262045. The working organ of a tunneling machine, including rock-destroying electrodes, is distinguished by the fact that to improve the efficiency of breaking strong rocks, the rock-destroying electrodes are made in the form of freely rotating wedge-shaped rollers mounted on an insulating axis.

Example 3:

USSR Patent No. 260874. A method for separating cord fibers from rubber, for example, in the carcass of worn-out tires, which involves soaking the tire in hydrocarbons, processing it with high-pressure liquid jets, mechanically brushing the fibers, and trimming them. The method is distinguished by the fact that, to increase labor productivity, the semi-tire is processed during its rotation at a speed that weakens the bond between the rubber particles.

Method 15: Principle of Dynamics

a) The characteristics of the object (or external environment) must change so that they are optimal at each stage of operation;

b) Divide the object into parts that can move relative to each other;

c) If the object is stationary as a whole, make it movable, moving.

Example 1:

USSR Patent No. 317390. A rubber swimming fin, distinguished by the fact that, to provide regulation of its working blade stiffness for different swimming speeds and durations, it has internal longitudinal cavities, the entire volume of which is filled with an inert incompressible liquid. The static pressure of this liquid is changed as needed on the shore or underwater.

Example 2:

USSR Patent No. 161247. A transport vessel, whose hull has a cylindrical shape, distinguished by the fact that, to reduce the vessel's draft when fully loaded, its hull is made of two unfolding, hinged semi-cylinders.

Example 3:

USSR Patent No. 174748. A vehicle with hinged frame sections that can rotate with the help of hydraulic cylinders. This type of vehicle has increased passability.

Example 4:

USSR Patent No. 162580. A method for manufacturing hollow cables with channels formed by tubes twisted with conductive wires, with the tubes being pre-filled with a substance that is removed after the cable is made. To simplify the process, paraffin is used as the filling substance, which is melted and poured out of the tubes after the cable is made.

Method 16: Principle of Partial or Excessive Action

If it is difficult to achieve 100% of the desired effect, it is better to achieve “a little less” or “a little more”—this will significantly simplify the task.

Example 1:

USSR Patent No. 181897. A method for combating hail, based on crystallization of the hail cloud using a reagent (e.g., silver iodide), distinguished by the fact that, to sharply reduce the reagent consumption and delivery costs, only a portion of the cloud is crystallized, focusing on the large droplets (local parts of the cloud).

Example 2:

USSR Patent No. 262333. A device for dosing metal powders, containing a hopper with a doser, distinguished by the fact that, to ensure a uniform supply of powder to the doser, the hopper is equipped with an internal receiving funnel and a channel with an electromagnetic pump to supply (in excess) powder to the funnel.

Example 3:

When sealing ampoules with medication using a strong flame, the ampoules are sealed well, but the medicine inside the ampoules loses its properties due to overheating. If the flame is made weaker, the medicine remains intact, but not all ampoules seal properly. The proposed solution is to perform sealing with maximum flame intensity, placing the ampoules in a container with water (to absorb the excess energy) such that only the tops of the ampoules (the necks) remain above the water.

Example 4:

At one factory, cylindrical parts needed to be painted with high precision regarding the thickness of the coating (3 microns). Existing spray guns couldn’t achieve this precision. The proposed solution was to coat the part completely (excessively), and then remove the excess paint using centrifugal forces (by spinning the part at a specified speed).

From examples 3 and 4, we can derive the general rule: 

When precise (dosed) conditions are required, and the existing equipment cannot achieve that, apply the maximum (excessive) conditions. The excess of energy is removed by the material, and the excess of material is removed by the energy.

Method 17: Principle of Transition to Another Dimension

a) Difficulties related to moving (or placing) the object along a line can be eliminated by allowing the object to move in two dimensions (i.e., on a plane). Similarly, problems related to moving (or placing) objects in a single plane are resolved when transitioning to a three-dimensional space;

b) Use multi-story arrangement of objects instead of single-story;

c) Tilt the object or place it "on its side";

d) Use the reverse side of the area in question;

e) Use optical flows that fall onto a neighboring area or the reverse side of the current area.

Example 1:

USSR Patent No. 150938. A semiconductor diode, distinguished by the fact that, to increase the power of the diode, it uses a profiled electron-hole junction and a profiled ohmic contact, without increasing the perimeter of the semiconductor plate. The transition from a flat contact to a three-dimensional one allows for a larger semiconductor plate area and, consequently, more power to be drawn from the electron-hole junction, while keeping the diode's dimensions the same.

Example 2:

The well-known Soviet inventor D. Kiselev, who worked for many years on perfecting a drill bit for oil well drilling, writes in his book "The Search of a Designer": “Each bearing in the bit has a certain load-bearing capacity, and if you increase the number of bearings and reduce the load on each, you can improve their working conditions and prevent wear. This was the path my thoughts took when looking for different bearing arrangements. But the bit's dimensions and the small space available to arrange the required number of balls and rollers hindered this. However, I suddenly saw the solution, right there in front of me. On the same surface area, I can arrange more bearing 'elements' in two layers, just like how people and objects are arranged in passenger carriages. I even laughed: it was such a simple solution, which I had been searching for for months.”

Example 3:

USSR Patent No. 180555. A method for mechanizing the exchange of mine cars in a horizontal mining tunnel, distinguished by the fact that, to avoid roof collapse and the creation of junctions, the exchange of loaded mine cars for empty ones is done by transferring the empty car and rotating it by 90° above the loading section.

Method 18: Principle of Using Mechanical Vibrations

a) Set the object into vibrational motion;

b) If such motion is already occurring, increase its frequency (up to ultrasonic);

c) Use the resonant frequency;

d) Replace mechanical vibrators with piezo-vibrators;

e) Use ultrasonic vibrations combined with electromagnetic fields.

Example 1:

USSR Patent No. 220380. A method for vibratory surfacing and welding of parts under a flux layer with low-frequency vibrations of the electrode, distinguished by the fact that, to improve the quality of the deposited metal, high-frequency ultrasonic vibrations (e.g., 20 kHz) are superimposed on the low-frequency vibrations of the electrode.

Example 2:

USSR Patent No. 307896. A method for sawing wood without using a saw blade, by employing a tool that changes its geometric dimensions during cutting, distinguished by the fact that to reduce the force required for the tool’s penetration into the wood, the cutting tool’s oscillation frequency is made close to the natural frequency of vibration of the wood being cut.

Example 3:

US Patent No. 3239283. Static friction significantly reduces the sensitivity of delicate instruments and hinders the movement of pointers, pendulums, and other moving parts in bearings. To avoid this, bearings are made to vibrate, and the elements of the instrument undergo oscillatory motion relative to each other. The source of vibration is typically an electric motor. This increases the complexity of the instrument's kinematics and its weight. American inventors John Broz and William Laubendorfer developed a bearing design where the bushings are made from piezoelectric material and coated with thin conductive foil on both sides. Electrodes are soldered to the foil, and alternating current is applied, generating vibrations.

Example 4:

USSR Patent No. 244272. A method for dust deposition using a magnetic field, distinguished by the fact that the air is simultaneously subjected to both acoustic and magnetic fields.

Here’s the translation for Method 19: Principle of Periodic Action, Method 20: Principle of Continuity of Useful Action, Method 21: Principle of Skipping, and Method 22: Principle of Turning Harm into Benefit:

Method 19: Principle of Periodic Action

a) Transition from continuous action to periodic (impulsive) action; b) If the action is already periodic, change the periodicity; c) Use pauses between impulses for other actions.

Example 1:

USSR Patent No. 267772. A method for studying the process of arc welding using an additional light source. However, while additional lighting improves the visibility of the solid and liquid materials in the arc region, it worsens the visibility of the plasma-gas phase of the arc column (an explicit technical contradiction!). The proposed method is distinguished by the fact that the brightness of the additional light source is periodically adjusted from zero to a value exceeding the brightness of the arc. This allows for simultaneous observation of both the arc itself and the processes of electrode melting and metal transfer.

Example 2:

USSR Patent No. 302622. A method for testing the integrity of a thermocouple by heating it and checking for the presence of an electromotive force in the circuit. The method is distinguished by the fact that, to reduce testing time, the thermocouple is heated by periodic current pulses, and during the time between pulses, the presence of thermoelectric voltage is checked.

Method 20: Principle of Continuity of Useful Action

a) Perform the work continuously (all parts of the object must always work at full load); b) Eliminate idle and intermediate actions.

Example 1:

USSR Patent No. 126440. A method of multi-well drilling using two sets of pipes. During simultaneous drilling of two or three wells, a rotor with multiple shafts is used, which can be operated independently of each other, and two sets of drilling pipes, which are alternately raised and lowered in the wells to change the worn-out bits. The operations of changing the bits are synchronized in time with the automatic drilling of one of the wells.

Example 2:

USSR Patent No. 268926. A method for transporting raw sugar on ships, distinguished by the fact that, to reduce transportation costs by eliminating empty (unladen) runs, tankers are used that, after unloading petroleum products or other liquid cargos, are cleaned and processed with detergents before being loaded with raw sugar.

Method 21: Principle of Skipping

Conduct the process or individual stages of it (for example, harmful or dangerous ones) at high speed.

Example 1:

USSR Patent No. 241484. A method for high-speed heating of metal blanks in a gas flow, distinguished by the fact that, to increase productivity and reduce decarburization, gas is supplied at a speed of at least 200 m/s, while maintaining a constant flow throughout the contact with the blanks.

Example 2:

USSR Patent No. 112889. When unloading a decked timber carrier, it is tilted using a ship-pitching device. To unload all the timber into the water, a large tilt of the ship is required, which is dangerous. The proposed method consists of quickly (“jerking”) tilting the timber carrier at a small angle. A dynamic load is created, and the timber is unloaded at a small tilt angle.

Example 3:

German Patent No. 1134821. A device for cutting large-diameter thin-walled plastic pipes. The distinguishing feature of the device is that the cutter moves so quickly that the pipe does not deform.

Method 22: Principle of Turning Harm into Benefit

a) Use harmful factors (specifically, harmful environmental impacts) to achieve a positive effect;b) Eliminate a harmful factor by combining it with other harmful factors;c) Increase the harmful factor to such an extent that it ceases to be harmful.

Example 1:

Corresponding Member of the USSR Academy of Sciences, P. Vologdin, wrote in his article “The Way of a Scientist” (Leningrad Almanac, 1953, No. 5) that back in the 1920s, he aimed to apply high-frequency currents to heat metals. Experiments showed that the metal only heated on the surface. High-frequency currents couldn’t be “forced” into the depth of the workpiece, so the experiments were stopped. Later, Vologdin regretted not using this “negative effect”: the industry could have had a method of high-frequency hardening of steel parts years before it was actually proposed. Another remarkable invention, however, turned out to be electro-spark metal treatment.

Example 2:

B.R. Lazarenko and I.N. Lazarenko worked on the problem of dealing with electrical erosion of metals. Electric current “corroded” metal at the point of contact between relay contacts, and nothing could be done about it. Hard and superhard alloys were tested without success. Researchers tried placing the contacts in various liquids, but the erosion process intensified. One day, the inventors realized that this “negative effect” could be used to advantage, and their work took a new direction. On April 3, 1943, they received the patent for the electro-spark method of metal treatment.

Example 3:

USSR Patent No. 152492. To protect underground cable lines from damage caused by frost cracks in the soil, narrow cuts ("cracks") are pre-made off the cable route. The principle itself is simple: allow what seems unacceptable—let it happen! However, the inventor's thoughts often face a psychological barrier.

Method 23: Principle of Feedback

a) Introduce feedback;

b) If feedback is already present, change it.

Example 1:

USSR Patent No. 283997. Inside a cooling tower, wind creates circulation zones, reducing the depth of water cooling. To improve the cooling efficiency, temperature sensors are installed in the sections of the tower, and based on their signals, the amount of water supplied is automatically adjusted.

Example 2:

USSR Patent No. 167229. A method for automatically starting a conveyor, distinguished by the fact that, to save electricity consumed at the moment of starting the conveyor motor, the power consumed by the motor during operation is measured, recorded at the moment the conveyor stops, and the resulting signal, inversely proportional to the weight of the material on the conveyor, is sent to the motor start-up mechanism at the moment the conveyor starts.

Example 3:

USSR Patent No. 239245. A method for automatic control of a rectification process by influencing the irrigation flow in the column depending on the temperature and pressure of the output product, distinguished by the fact that, to stabilize the content of one of the components in a three-component mixture, correction based on the specific gravity of the output product is additionally introduced.

Method 24: Principle of "Mediator"

a) Use an intermediate object to carry or transfer the action;

b) Temporarily attach another (easily removable) object to the object.

Example 1:

USSR Patent No. 177436. A method for delivering electric current to a liquid metal, distinguished by the fact that, to reduce electrical losses, the current is supplied to the main metal through cooled electrodes via an intermediate liquid metal, whose melting temperature is lower, and whose density and boiling point are higher than those of the main metal.

Example 2:

USSR Patent No. 178005. A method for applying a volatile corrosion inhibitor to a protected surface, distinguished by the fact that, to obtain a uniform coating on the internal surfaces of complex parts, heated air saturated with inhibitor vapors is blown through them.

Method 25: Principle of Self-service

a) The object must service itself by performing auxiliary and maintenance operations;

b) Use waste (energy, materials).

Example 1:

USSR Patent No. 261207. A shot-blasting machine, whose body is lined with wear-resistant plates, distinguished by the fact that, to increase the durability of the lining, the plates are made of magnets that hold a protective layer of shot on their surface. Thus, a constantly renewing protective layer of shot is formed on the walls of the machine.

Example 2:

USSR Patent No. 307584. A method for constructing irrigation system channels from prefabricated elements, distinguished by the fact that, to simplify transportation of the items, the ends of the initial channel section are closed with temporary diaphragms, the finished section is flooded with water, and subsequent elements, also closed with temporary diaphragms at the ends, are welded together along the channel section.

Example 3:

USSR Patent No. 108625. A method for cooling semiconductor diodes, distinguished by the fact that, to improve the heat exchange conditions, a semiconductor thermoelement is used, with the operating current being the current passing through the diode in the forward direction.

Method 26: Principle of Copying

a) Instead of an inaccessible, complex, expensive, inconvenient, or fragile object, use simplified and inexpensive copies of it;

 b) Replace the object or system of objects with their optical copies (images). Use scaling (enlarge or reduce copies);

 c) If visible optical copies are used, transition to infrared or ultraviolet copies.

Example 1:

USSR Patent No. 86560. A visual educational aid for geodesy, made in the form of a painting on a flat surface, distinguished by the fact that, to facilitate subsequent geodetic surveying from the painting, it is made based on tachometric survey data and contains miniature geodetic rods at characteristic points of the terrain.

Example 2:

Sometimes it is necessary (for measurements or control) to combine two objects that cannot physically be merged. In such cases, optical copies are effectively used. For example, the problem of spatial measurements on X-ray images was solved in this way. A regular X-ray image does not allow you to determine how far the disease focus is from the surface of the body. Stereoscopic images provide a three-dimensional view, but even then, measurements have to be done visually, as there is no scale inside the body! The problem, therefore, is to “combine the incompatible”: the body being X-rayed and a scale ruler. Inventor F. I. Aksenov from Novosibirsk solved this problem by applying the method of optical combination. Using his method, stereoscopic X-ray images are combined with stereoscopic images of a gridded cube. When looking through the stereoscope at the combined images, the doctor sees the “inside” of the patient, with the gridded cube acting as a spatial scale.

Example 3:

The Canadian company "Krueter Pulp" uses a special photographic setup to measure logs transported on railway platforms. According to the company, the photographic measurement of balances is 50–60 times faster than manual measurement, with the deviation of the results from the accurate count not exceeding 1–2%.

Example 4:

USSR Patent No. 180829. A new method for inspecting the surface of internal cavities in spherical parts. A low-reflective liquid is poured into the part, and by successively changing its level, photographs are taken on the same frame of color film. The resulting concentric circles are analyzed. By comparing these lines (in a projection system) with the theoretical lines from the drawing, the magnitude of the part’s shape deviation is determined with high accuracy.

Method 27: Principle of Cheap Short-lived Alternatives Instead of Expensive Long-lived Ones

Replace an expensive object with a set of cheap objects, sacrificing some qualities (e.g., durability).

Example 1:

Aseptic rules require that syringes with needles for injections be boiled for at least 45 minutes. However, in many cases, it is necessary to administer the medication as quickly as possible (this issue was relevant even before the advent of disposable syringes). The All-Union Scientific Research Institute of Medical Instruments and Equipment developed a disposable syringe-tube. This is a thin-walled plastic vessel with a sterile needle secured at the neck, protected by a cap. The syringe-tube is filled with medicine in the factory and sealed. Such a syringe can be made ready literally in seconds—simply by removing the cap from the needle. During the injection, the medication is squeezed out of the tube, and the used syringe-tube is discarded.

Example 2:

US Patent No. 3430629. A disposable diaper. It contains a filler material similar to blotting paper. There are many patents of this type: for disposable thermometers, garbage bags, toothbrushes, etc.

Method 28: Principle of Replacing Mechanical Scheme

a) Replace a mechanical scheme with an optical, acoustic, or “odor” scheme;

 b) Use electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields to interact with the object;

 c) Transition from stationary fields to moving ones, from fixed fields to those that change over time, from unstructured fields to those with a specific structure;

 d) Use fields in combination with ferromagnetic particles.

Example 1:

USSR Patent No. 163559. A method for monitoring the wear of rock-breaking tools, such as drill bits, distinguished by the fact that, to simplify monitoring, wear signaling is done using ampoules with sharply odorous chemicals (e.g., ethyl mercaptan) embedded in the body of the bit.

Example 2:

USSR Patent No. 154459. An indestructible screw pair. The screw pair consists of a screw, into which a winding is placed, and a nut with a similar winding. The screw and nut are arranged with a gap between them. The nut is rigidly connected to a movable part of a machine or device. When current passes through the windings, magnetic fields are created around them. These fields close through the nut and screw, with the magnetic flux reaching its maximum when the threads of the screw and nut align. When the screw rotates, the magnetic "flux" between the shifted threads of the screw and nut is distorted, and as a result, a force is generated, which attempts to restore the initial alignment of the threads. This force causes the nut with the movable part to move. The gap between the screw and nut allows for a significant extension of the screw pair’s service life, making it practically indestructible.

Example 3:

At a factory, delicate work was being done to grind the walls of a hole with a diameter of half a millimeter. A miniature grinder, with a diameter of 0.2 millimeters, was created and covered with diamond dust. This tiny tool was driven by a pneumatic turbine rotating at 1000 rpm! Additionally, the grinder moved along the contour of the hole, going around it 150 times per minute. The worker was unable to see the processing zone and could not determine when the tiny tool touched the part. The worker either delayed the process or finished it too early, in both cases resulting in defective parts. They were about to design a unique automatic machine, but the inventive thought found a simple solution: the part was isolated from the machine, one pole of a battery was attached to it, and the other pole was connected to the machine. An amplifier and loudspeaker were included in the circuit. Now, as soon as the tool touched the part, the loudspeaker “screamed.” The screaming machine made sounds, allowing the worker to judge when the grinding started and how it was progressing— the pitch of the sound changed.

Example 4:

USSR Patent No. 261372. A method for conducting processes, such as catalytic processes, in systems with moving catalysts, distinguished by the fact that, to extend the field of application, a moving magnetic field is created and a catalyst with ferromagnetic properties is used.

Example 5:

USSR Patent No. 144500. A method for intensifying heat exchange in tubular elements of surface heat exchangers, distinguished by the fact that, to increase the heat transfer coefficient, ferromagnetic particles are introduced into the heat carrier flow, moving under the action of a rotating magnetic field primarily near the walls of the heat exchanger to disrupt and turbulate the boundary layer.

Example 6:

French Patent No. 1499276. After processing parts in tumbling barrels or vibrating machines, they need to be separated from abrasive grains. If the parts are large, this is easy; if they are ferromagnetic, they can be retrieved with magnetic separators. But what if the parts are not magnetic, and they are the same size as the abrasive grains? This problem is solved by the invention, where the abrasives are given magnetic properties. This can be achieved by pressing or sintering a mixture of abrasive grains and magnetic particles, such as filings or granules, or by embedding them into the pores of the abrasives.

Method 29: Principle of Using Pneumatic and Hydrostatic Constructions

Instead of solid parts of the object, use gaseous and liquid components: inflatable and hydro-filled, air cushions, hydrostatic and hydro-reactive.

Example 1:

USSR Patent No. 243809. The goal of the invention is to improve thrust and increase the height of gas dispersion. This is achieved by making the pipe body (shown in the diagram) from a conical spiral, with hollow turns that have nozzles and are connected to hollow supports. The free ends of the supports are connected to a compressor. When the compressor is turned on, air, under pressure, rises through the supports and enters the spiral turns of the pipe body. As it exits the nozzles, it creates an air “wall.”

Example 2:

USSR Patent No. 312630. A method for spraying large-size items with paint, with the removal of solvent vapors and paint mist through a ventilation suction system. The method is distinguished by the fact that, to reduce the production area around the painted item, an upward air curtain is created that exceeds the height of the item. The upper ends of the curtain are swirled by a floor ventilation suction system.

This invention solves the same technical contradiction as in the previous case. The solutions are similar: a pneumatic wall instead of a rigid tubular fence.

Example 3:

USSR Patent No. 264675. A support for a spherical tank, including a base, distinguished by the fact that, to reduce stress on the tank shell, the base is made in the form of a liquid-filled vessel with a concave elastic cover that takes the shape of the tank's shell.

Example 4:

A double of this invention is USSR Patent No. 243177. A device for transferring forces from the support of a tripod to the foundation, distinguished by the fact that, to ensure uniform pressure transfer to the foundation, it is made as a flat closed vessel filled with liquid.

Method 30: Principle of Using Flexible Shells and Thin Films

a) Replace conventional constructions with flexible shells and thin films;

b) Isolate an object from the external environment using flexible shells and thin films.

Example 1:

To reduce moisture loss through the leaves of trees, American researchers spray them with polyethylene “rain.” A very thin plastic film forms on the leaves. The plant, covered by the plastic “blanket,” continues to grow normally because polyethylene allows oxygen and carbon dioxide to pass through much more easily than water vapor.

Example 2:

USSR Patent No. 312826. A method for liquid-liquid extraction, distinguished by the fact that, to intensify the mass transfer process, one phase is delivered through a gas layer onto the surface of the other phase, which moves as a film over a solid surface.

Method 31: Principle of Using Porous Materials

a) Make the object porous or use additional porous elements (insertions, coatings, etc.);

b) If the object is already porous, pre-fill the pores with a substance.

Machines were always made from dense (impermeable) materials. The inertia of thinking leads to solving tasks easily handled by using porous materials, with attempts to resolve them by introducing special devices and systems while keeping all elements impermeable. Meanwhile, a well-organized machine is permeable—examples can be seen in any living organism, from a single cell to a human being. The internal movement of matter is one of the essential functions of many machines. A "coarse" machine achieves this function using tubes, pumps, etc., while a "fine" machine uses porous materials and molecular forces.

Example 1:

USSR Patent No. 262092. A method for protecting the inner surfaces of a container’s walls from the deposition of solid or viscous particles from the contained product, distinguished by the fact that, to enhance protection and reduce energy costs, a non-deposit-forming liquid is pumped through the walls of a container made of porous material under pressure exceeding the pressure inside the container.

Example 2:

USSR Patent No. 283264. A method for adding additives to liquid metal using refractory materials, distinguished by the fact that, to improve the additive incorporation process, a porous refractory material, pre-soaked with the additive material, is submerged in the metal.

Example 3:

USSR Patent No. 187135. A system for evaporative cooling of electrical machines, distinguished by the fact that, to eliminate the need for coolant delivery to the machine, active parts and specific structural elements are made from porous metals (such as porous powder steels) impregnated with liquid coolant, which evaporates during the machine’s operation, providing brief, intensive, and even cooling.

Method 32: Principle of Changing Color

a) Change the color of the object or external environment;

b) Change the degree of transparency of the object or the external environment.

Example 1:

In blacksmith and casting shops, and in metallurgical plants, water curtains are used to protect workers from heat. Such curtains effectively shield workers from invisible thermal (infrared) radiation, but the blinding bright rays from molten metal pass through the thin liquid film unimpeded. To protect workers from these rays as well, staff at the Polish Institute of Occupational Safety proposed coloring the water used for the water curtain. While remaining transparent, the water completely blocks thermal radiation and reduces the intensity of visible radiation.

Example 2:

USSR Patent No. 165645. A dye is introduced into the fixer solution, which is reversibly absorbed by the photographic layer and does not color the backing paper or celluloid. The dye is removed from the layer during the subsequent washing with water. The speed of washing out the dye is approximately equal to the speed of washing out sodium thiosulfate or slightly slower. The decolorization of the photographic image indicates the completeness of the layer’s wash from residual salts used for fixing the photographic material.

Method 33: Principle of Homogeneity

Objects interacting with the given object should be made from the same material (or a material with similar properties).

Example 1:

German Patent No. 957599. A casting trough for treating molten metal with sound or ultrasound using a sound emitter placed in the molten metal, distinguished by the fact that the part of the sound emitter in contact with the molten metal is made of the same metal as the untreated metal or one of its alloying components and is partially melted by the molten metal, while the rest of the sound emitter is forcibly cooled and remains intact.

Example 2:

USSR Patent No. 234800. A method for lubricating a cooled sliding bearing, distinguished by the fact that, to improve lubrication at elevated temperatures, the lubricant used is the same material as the bearing insert.

Example 3:

USSR Patent No. 180340. A method for cleaning gases from dust containing molten particles, distinguished by the fact that, to enhance process efficiency, the incoming gases are bubbled through a medium formed by the fusion of these same particles in molten form.

Example 4:

USSR Patent No. 259298. A method for welding metals, where the welding edges are installed with a gap and filler material is supplied into the gap, followed by heating the welding edges, distinguished by the fact that, to improve the welding process, volatile compounds of the same metals as the ones being welded are used as the filler material.

Method 34: Principle of Throwing Away and Regenerating Parts

a) A part of the object that has fulfilled its function or has become unnecessary should be discarded (dissolved, evaporated, etc.) or transformed during the process;

b) Consumable parts of the object should be regenerated during the operation.

Example 1:

US Patent No. 3174550. In the event of an emergency airplane landing, gasoline is foamed using special chemicals, turning it into a non-flammable state.

Example 2:

US Patent No. 3160950. To protect sensitive instruments from damage during a rocket's sharp start, they are immersed in foam, which, after acting as a shock absorber, quickly evaporates in space.

This principle can be seen as an extension of the Principle of Dynamics: the object changes during the action, but it changes more significantly. An airplane with a changing wing geometry during flight follows the Principle of Dynamics, while a rocket shedding spent stages follows the Principle of Throwing Away.

Example 3:

USSR Patent No. 222322. A method for manufacturing spiral micro-springs, distinguished by the fact that, to increase productivity, the mandrel is made from elastic material and is removed by immersing it along with the spring in a solution that dissolves the elastic material.

Example 4:

USSR Patent No. 235979. A method for making rubber balls for separators, distinguished by the fact that, to give the ball the required size, the core is formed from a mixture of crushed chalk and water, followed by drying and destruction of the solid core after vulcanization using a liquid injected through a needle.

Example 5:

USSR Patent No. 159783. A method for manufacturing hollow profiles, distinguished by the fact that, to produce profiles of varying sizes and shapes, welded packages filled with refractory material (e.g., magnesite powder) are rolled on sectional mills, and the filler is then removed.

Example 6:

USSR Patent No. 182492. A method for compensating wear of an unprofiled electrode-tool during electroerosion processing of conductive materials, distinguished by the fact that, to increase the service life of the electrode-tool, a metal layer is continuously sprayed onto its working surface during the processing.

Example 7:

USSR Patent No. 212672. When transporting acidic hydro-mixtures with abrasive materials, the inner walls of the pipelines wear out quickly. Protecting them with linings is complex, labor-intensive, and increases the outer diameter of the pipes. The described method of protection involves forming a protective layer (garnishing) on the inner walls of the pipe. For this, a lime solution is periodically added to the transported mixture, thus always protecting the inner walls from wear while minimally reducing the pipeline's cross-section, as the garnishing wears out due to the abrasive acidic mixture.

Method 35: Principle of Changing the Physical and Chemical Parameters of the Object

a) Change the state of aggregation of the object;

 b) Change the concentration or consistency;

 c) Change the degree of flexibility;

 d) Change the temperature.

Example 1:

USSR Patent No. 265068. A method for conducting mass transfer processes in a gas-viscous liquid system, distinguished by the fact that, to intensify the process, the viscous liquid is pre-gasified before being fed into the apparatus.

Example 2:

USSR Patent No. 222781. A bulk material dispenser, such as for mineral fertilizers and pesticides, made in the form of a screw enclosed in a casing with an outlet hole, distinguished by the fact that, to allow adjustment of the pitch, the screw surface is made of an elastic material with a spring spiral on both the inner and outer sides.

Method 36: Principle of Using Phase Transitions

Use phenomena that occur during phase transitions, such as changes in volume, heat release or absorption, etc.

Example 1:

USSR Patent No. 190855. A method for making ribbed pipes, involving the distribution of sealed pipes with water supplied under pressure, distinguished by the fact that, to reduce costs and speed up the process, the supplied pressurized water is frozen.

This raises the question: how does Method 36 differ from Method 35-a (change in aggregation state) and Method 15 (Principle of Dynamics)? Method 35-a involves using the object in aggregation state B instead of aggregation state A and obtaining the desired result through the unique properties of state B. Method 15 involves alternating between the properties inherent in state A and those inherent in state B. In Method 36, the problem is solved through phenomena associated with the transition from state A to state B or vice versa. For instance, if we fill the pipe with water instead of ice, nothing happens. The desired effect is achieved due to the increase in volume when the water freezes.

Example 2:

USSR Patent No. 225851. A method for cooling various objects using a circulating liquid coolant in a closed loop, distinguished by the fact that, to reduce the amount of circulating coolant and decrease energy costs, part of the coolant is converted into a solid phase, and cooling is done using the resulting mixture.

Method 37: Principle of Using Thermal Expansion

a) Use thermal expansion (or contraction) of materials;

 b) Use multiple materials with different coefficients of thermal expansion.

Example 1:

USSR Patent No. 309758. A method for drawing pipes on a movable mandrel at reduced temperatures, distinguished by the fact that, to create a gap between the pipe and the mandrel after drawing to extract the mandrel from the pipe without scratching, a pre-heated mandrel (e.g., 50–100°C) is inserted into the cooled pipe before drawing, and the mandrel is extracted after the temperatures of the pipe and mandrel are equalized.

Example 2:

USSR Patent No. 312642. A billet for hot pressing multi-layered products made in the form of concentrically arranged sleeves made from different materials, distinguished by the fact that, to obtain multi-layered products with stressed layers, each sleeve is made of a material with a higher coefficient of linear thermal expansion than the sleeve material inside it.

The essence of the method is transitioning from "coarse" motion on the macro level to "fine" motion on the molecular level. Thermal expansion can create significant forces and pressures. It also allows for precise "dosing" of an object’s movement.

Example 3:

USSR Patent No. 242127. A device for micro-movement of a working object, such as a crystal holder with a seed, distinguished by the fact that, to ensure maximum smoothness, it contains two rods subjected to electric heating and cooling according to a specified program, located in thermostatted chambers on supports and alternately moving the object in the desired direction.

Method 38: Principle of Using Strong Oxidizers

a) Replace ordinary air with enriched air;

b) Replace enriched air with oxygen;

c) Expose air and oxygen to ionizing radiation;

d) Use ozone-enriched oxygen;

e) Replace ozone-enriched oxygen (or ionized oxygen) with ozone.

The main goal of this method is to increase the intensity of processes. Examples include the sintering and roasting of dispersive material by intensifying the combustion process with oxygen-enriched air; plasma-arc cutting of stainless steels, where pure oxygen is used as the cutting gas; and intensification of the agglomeration process of ores by ionizing the oxidizer and gaseous fuel before feeding them into the charge layer.

Method 39: Principle of Using an Inert Environment

a) Replace the ordinary environment with an inert one;

b) Conduct the process in a vacuum.

This method can be considered the opposite of Method 38, where the goal is to increase the process’s intensity using strong oxidizers. Here, instead, an inert environment is used to avoid unwanted reactions or to maintain a controlled environment.

Method 40: Principle of Using Composite Materials

Transition from homogeneous materials to composite materials.

Example 1:

US Patent No. 3553820. Lightweight, durable, heat-resistant products are made from aluminum and strengthened with numerous carbon filaments coated with tantalum. These products have a high modulus of elasticity and are used as materials for constructing ships in both the air and sea fleets.

Example 2:

USSR Patent No. 147225. A method for recording, using ink that contains small magnetic particles. Unlike regular ink, magnetic ink is controlled by a magnetic field.

Composite materials—composite materials have properties not inherent to their individual components. For example, the porous materials discussed in Method 31 are compositions of solid substances and air; neither the solid substance nor the air individually possess the properties of the porous substance.

Nature has invented composite materials and uses them extensively. For example, wood is a composite of cellulose and lignin. The cellulose fibers are strong in tension but flexible, while lignin binds them together and provides rigidity.

An interesting composite material combines a fusible substance (e.g., Wood's alloy) with fibers of a heat-resistant material (e.g., steel). This material easily melts but, upon cooling, has high strength. Over time, the particles of solder and the fibers diffuse, forming a composite with a high melting temperature.

Another composite material—an emulsion of silicon particles in oil—can harden in an electric field.