Accumulator Damping Member Mounting for Metal Bellows
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional accumulators with metal bellows face instability in the mounting state of damping members and excessive impact on the bellows due to oscillations, leading to potential deformation or breakage, as well as unstable sliding and expansion issues.
Innovation Solution
An accumulator design featuring a damping member with a radially inward tip fitted to the valley parts of the metal bellows and a radially outward tip longer than the crest parts, which absorbs impacts and maintains a gap between the bellows and the pressure vessel, stabilizing the mounting and reducing oscillation-induced stress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the thickness of the trunk part of the intermediate ring is reduced to prevent affecting expansion and contraction of the metal bellows, then the metal bellows can expand and contract smoothly, but a large gap is caused between the belly parts of the metal bellows and the trunk part, resulting in unstable mounting state and instability during sliding
Solution Approach 1:
The radially inward tip of the damping member is fitted into the valley part of the metal bellows, creating a nested structure where the damping member is partially inserted into the bellows geometry. This nesting provides stable mounting while maintaining operational smoothness.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping member is designed with a thin trunk part that maintains flexibility and adaptability, allowing it to conform to the bellows movement while remaining securely mounted through the fitted tip configuration.
2Ease of operation
If the intermediate ring is designed with guide parts that abut on the crest parts of the metal bellows, then the function of guiding movement is achieved, but when the intermediate ring receives impact from the pressure vessel, the impact is transmitted via the guide part to the crest parts, causing deformation or breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The damping member acts as an intermediary element between the pressure vessel and the metal bellows. It absorbs and diminishes impact forces before they reach the bellows, protecting the bellows from deformation or breakage while still providing movement guidance.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping member is positioned and configured to provide cushioning protection in advance, absorbing impacts before they can transmit damaging forces to the metal bellows structure.
3Ease of operation
If a slide ring is provided at the tip of the metal bellows to suppress oscillation, then the metal bellows can be expanded and contracted smoothly, but under various conditions such as the length of the metal bellows, the vicinity of the intermediate part of the metal bellows may collide with the pressure vessel
Solution Approach 1:
The damping function is segmented and distributed along the metal bellows by providing damping members at multiple valley parts rather than relying on a single slide ring at the tip. This segmentation ensures comprehensive oscillation suppression throughout the bellows structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping member serves as an intermediary that suppresses oscillation and prevents collision between the metal bellows and pressure vessel, enhancing the reliability of the system while maintaining smooth operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively stabilizes the mounting of the damping member, diminishes impact on the metal bellows, and allows smooth expansion and contraction while preventing deformation or breakage, enhancing the overall performance and reliability of the accumulator.
Implementation Method 1
when the damping member receives an impact from the inner circumferential surface of the pressure vessel, the impact is transmitted throughout the overall damping member, so that the impact can be diminished
Implementation Method 2
a radially outward tip is longer than the crest part of the metal bellows radially outwardly, thereby the mounting state of the damping member can be stabilized while the impact on the metal bellows can be diminished
Data Source
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AI summary
An accumulator is provided, which is aimed at stabilization in mounting state of a damping member while diminishing the impact on a metal bellows. In an accumulator (100), a damping member (190) formed slidably at the inner circumferential surface of a pressure vessel (110) and suppressing the oscillation of a metal bellows (130) while keeping a gap between the metal bellows (130) and the inner circumferential surface of the pressure vessel (110) is mounted at at least one site of a plurality of annular valley parts of the metal bellows(130) including a plurality of annular crest parts and the plurality of annular valley parts alternately formed therein. In the damping member (190), a radially inward tip is fitted with the valley part, and a radially outward tip is longer than the crest part of the metal bellows radially and outwardly.