Hydraulic Actuator Piston Locking for Stable Lubricant Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydraulic actuators require continuous movement of the working piston to maintain cooling and lubricating functions, leading to unreliable flow connections when the piston stops, compromising operational safety.
Innovation Solution
A unidirectionally stable working piston is ensured by using retaining means, such as springs or magnets, to fix the piston in defined positions, maintaining flow connections even when the piston is stationary, and a resetting mechanism to return the piston to a defined position when hydraulic pressure is reduced.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the working piston is allowed to move continuously to maintain flow connection, then the cooling and lubricating function is maintained, but the system complexity increases and operational safety decreases when the piston stops
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining means (spring or magnet) is pre-configured to automatically engage with the working piston when it reaches the extreme position, ensuring flow connection is established before the piston stops moving. This preliminary action eliminates the need for continuous movement to maintain lubrication/cooling flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The working piston itself serves dual functions: it both actuates the functional part and maintains flow connection for lubrication/cooling. The retaining means attached to the piston creates a self-regulating system where the piston's own movement triggers the flow connection maintenance without requiring external control systems.
2Reliability
If retaining means are added to fix the working piston in defined positions, then flow connection reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining means (spring or magnet) is integrated directly onto the working piston, merging the flow connection maintenance function with the piston's existing actuation function. This eliminates the need for separate control mechanisms and minimizes additional components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent offers two options: a mechanical spring-based retaining means or a magnetic retaining means. The magnetic option replaces mechanical contact with magnetic field interaction, reducing mechanical wear and simplifying the retaining mechanism structure.
3Reliability
If a resetting mechanism is added to return the working piston to defined position, then operational safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-based resetting mechanism uses the spring force to automatically return the working piston to its initial position after actuation. The spring is pre-compressed or pre-tensioned to provide the necessary counteracting force, eliminating the need for powered reset systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The resetting mechanism is passively activated by the hydraulic pressure itself. When pressure is applied to the opposite side of the piston, it automatically overcomes the spring force and resets the piston position, using the system's own operating principles to achieve resetting without external intervention.
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
This design enhances the safety and reliability of hydraulic actuation and lubrication systems by ensuring consistent flow connections and maintaining the cooling and lubricating functions without continuous piston movement, providing increased operational safety.
Implementation Method 1
a permanent magnet (12) is provided in the pressure cylinder (5) as a holding means which holds the working piston (4) in place when the extreme position A is reached
Implementation Method 2
a coil spring (44) wound around the piston rod of the working piston
Implementation Method 3
a hydraulic pump, which serves as pressure supply
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulic actuator can be provided for actuating a functional part by a movement of a force transmission element, with a working piston which can be acted upon by a hydraulic pressure of a pressure supply and is movable thereover between a first extreme position and a second extreme position in a piston/cylinder unit, wherein two chambers separated from one another by the working piston are present and a first chamber is formed as a first working chamber with a pressure inlet and a hydraulic pressure applied to the first pressure inlet urges the working piston in the direction of the first extreme position in order to enlarge the first working chamber.At least one retaining means is provided which is capable of automatically locking the working piston in one of the extreme positions when this extreme position is reached, even without any hydraulic pressure being applied.