Actuator Biasing Apparatus With Telescopic Sleeve Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Assembling and disassembling actuators with spring biasing systems is complex due to the force exerted by the spring, making it difficult to couple and uncouple components without compressing or decompressing the spring.
Innovation Solution
A biasing apparatus with a preloaded spring positioned between telescopically coupled sleeves, including opposing flanges to limit movement and prevent coil binding, allowing for assembly and disassembly without decompressing the spring, and optionally using externally adjustable stops to tailor travel and prevent coil binding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spring is positioned in the actuator to provide biasing functionality, then the actuator can return to a fail-safe position, but assembling and disassembling the actuator becomes difficult due to the force exerted by the spring
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator is divided into separate modules: a spring module containing the biasing spring, and a valve module containing the control valve. The spring module can be assembled and disassembled independently from the valve module, allowing maintenance of the spring's biasing function while eliminating the difficulty of assembling/disassembling the entire actuator with the spring installed.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring is extracted from the main actuator body and placed in a separate spring module. This extraction allows the spring to maintain its biasing function for returning to fail-safe position, while the main actuator can be assembled and disassembled without the constraint of the spring's force.
2Force
If the spring is preloaded to exert force on the piston, then biasing functionality is achieved, but the force makes it difficult to couple and uncouple components
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator system is segmented into a spring module and a valve module that can be coupled and uncoupled independently. The spring module contains the preloaded spring that exerts force on the piston, while the valve module can be assembled and disassembled without dealing with the spring force, thereby reducing coupling complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
A coupling mechanism acts as an intermediary between the spring module and valve module. This intermediary allows the spring module to be attached to or separated from the valve module without requiring the spring to be compressed or decompressed, simplifying the coupling and uncoupling process.
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
Simplifies the assembly and disassembly process of actuators by maintaining spring tension within a self-contained module, reducing complexity and time required for these operations.
Implementation Method 1
a spring is commonly positioned in the actuator to bias a piston of the actuator and/or to return a fluid control member of the control valve to a fail safe position
Data Source
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AI summary
Biasing apparatus for use with actuators are described. A biasing apparatus for use with a piston actuator includes a first sleeve at least partially surrounded by and movably coupled to a second sleeve. Additionally, the biasing apparatus includes a stop to limit an amount of movement of the first sleeve relative to the second sleeve and a biasing element positioned between first and second ends of the respective first and second sleeves to urge the first sleeve away from the second sleeve.