# US 2024/0200570 A1 · Surface-processed structure, surface-processed sheet, and propeller fan > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0200570 A1 - Document ID: US20240200570A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/287,003 - Filed: 2022-03-22 - Published: 2024-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2021-04-16 - Assignees: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: MASARU MISUMI; YUI KUMON - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240200570A1 ## CPC - F04D 29/384: {characterised by form} - F04D 29/681: {especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps} - F04D 29/388: {characterised by construction} - B64C 23/06: by generating vortices - F05D 2240/30: Characteristics of rotor blades, i.e. of any element transforming dynamic fluid energy to or from rotational energy and being attached to a rotor - F05D 2240/303: related to the leading edge of a rotor blade - F05D 2250/60: Structure; Surface texture - F15D 1/004: {oriented essentially parallel to the direction of flow} - F15D 1/12: by influencing the boundary layer - F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02) - B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS - F15D: FLUID DYNAMICS, i.e. METHODS OR MEANS FOR INFLUENCING THE FLOW OF GASES OR LIQUIDS ## Abstract A surface-processed structure includes a plurality of blocks that are three-dimensional objects arranged on a target surface. The plurality of blocks are spaced apart from each other and are arranged side by side in a second direction. Each of the plurality of blocks includes a top face including a plurality of fine grooves. The plurality of fine grooves are spaced apart from each other, are arranged side by side in the second direction, and extend from upstream to downstream in a first direction. A width of each of the plurality of fine grooves in the second direction is less than a width of a block clearance in the second direction. Both end portions of the top face in the second direction are located above bottoms of the plurality of fine grooves in a cross section of the block extending along a plane perpendicular to the first direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A surface-processed structure comprising: a plurality of blocks, the plurality of blocks being three-dimensional objects arranged on a target surface, the target surface being a surface of a target object, wherein the target surface extends in a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to each other, the plurality of blocks are spaced apart from each other and are arranged side by side in the second direction, each of the plurality of blocks includes a top face including a plurality of fine grooves, the plurality of fine grooves are spaced apart from each other, are arranged side by side in the second direction, and extend from upstream to downstream in the first direction, a block clearance having a groove shape and extending in the first direction is formed between two blocks of the plurality of blocks adjacent to each other in the second direction, a width of each of the plurality of fine grooves in the second direction is less than a width of the block clearance in the second direction, and both end portions of the top face in the second direction are located above bottoms of the plurality of fine grooves in a cross section of each of the plurality of blocks extending along a plane perpendicular to the first direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The surface-processed structure according to claim 1, wherein the top face includes a plurality of protruding portions each provided between two fine grooves of the plurality of fine grooves adjacent to each other, top end surfaces of the plurality of protruding portions constitute an outer surface of each of the plurality of blocks, and both end portions of the top face in the second direction are located at a height identical to a height of the outer surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The surface-processed structure according to claim 2, wherein the width of each of the plurality of fine grooves in the second direction is greater than a width of each of the plurality of protruding portions in the second direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The surface-processed structure according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of protruding portions include two first protruding portions constituting the both end portions of the top face in the second direction and a plurality of second protruding portions different from the two first protruding portions, and a width of each of the two first protruding portions in the second direction is equal to or greater than a width of each of the plurality of second protruding portions in the second direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The surface-processed structure according to claim 1, wherein the width of the block clearance in the second direction is less than a sum of widths of the plurality of fine grooves in the second direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The surface-processed structure according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of fine grooves are each arranged at a first pitch corresponding to a first flow rate that is relatively higher flow rate of two different flow rates, and a plurality of the block clearances are each arranged at a second pitch corresponding to a second flow rate that is relatively slower flow rate of the two different flow rates. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The surface-processed structure according to claim 1, wherein the top face is an inclined surface extending from upstream to downstream in the first direction with a distance from the target surface gradually increasing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The surface-processed structure according to claim 1, wherein an aspect ratio indicating a ratio of a depth to a width in the second direction of the block clearance gradually increases from upstream to downstream in the first direction, the aspect ratio of the block clearance at an upstream end portion is 0.5 or less, and the aspect ratio of the block clearance at a downstream end portion is 0.7 or more. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The surface-processed structure according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of blocks are two-dimensionally arrayed side by side in the first direction and the second direction and are arranged in such a manner that a plurality of the block clearances constitute a fluid flow path extending in the first direction, and sets of the plurality of fine grooves each provided on the top face and a plurality of the fluid flow paths are aligned alternately along the second direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The surface-processed structure according to claim 9, wherein a clearance having a groove shape and extending in the second direction is formed between two blocks of the plurality of blocks adjacent to each other in the first direction, and a height difference of the top face of a block among the two blocks located upstream in the first direction of the two blocks is substantially equal to a width of the clearance having the groove shape in the first direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The surface-processed structure according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of fine grooves extend at a constant depth from an upstream end portion to a downstream end portion of the top face in the first direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A surface-processed sheet comprising the surface-processed structure according to claim 1 being provided on a base of the surface-processed sheet configured to be installed on the target surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A propeller fan comprising: a rotation shaft portion; and a blade extending outward from the rotation shaft portion, wherein the surface-processed structure according to claim 1 is provided on a surface of the blade, and the first direction is parallel to a direction from a leading edge toward a trailing edge of the blade.