Gas Cylinder Actuator Safety Shoulder Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current gas cylinder actuators with safety devices are inadequate in ensuring safe discharge of pressurized gas during uncontrolled return situations, leading to potential failure and uncontrolled ejection of the stem-piston, which poses risks to operators and machinery.

Innovation Solution

A gas cylinder actuator design featuring a deformable extraction-preventing shoulder that protrudes from one of the heads and abuts an internal annular protrusion, allowing the head to move axially and create a gas discharge passage when deformed, preventing uncontrolled ejection and ensuring safe gas exit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an extraction-preventing shoulder is formed on the stem to retain it during fracture, then the stem is retained within the jacket, but the device complexity increases and the stem design becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestem retention during fractureVSAvoidstem structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of adding complexity to the stem (the moving part), the invention inverts the solution by adding the extraction-preventing shoulder to the head (the stationary part). The shoulder protrudes from the head into the jacket, creating a mechanical stop that prevents stem extraction during fracture while maintaining simple stem geometry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The extraction-preventing shoulder acts as an intermediary element between the head and the stem. It provides the retention function without being part of the stem itself, allowing the stem to remain simple while still achieving the desired safety function through the mediating shoulder structure on the head.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a preset part of the piston or stem is designed to separate following impact, then the sealing gasket is damaged allowing gas discharge, but the reliability decreases due to predefined failure points

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuncontrolled return preventionVSAvoidactuator integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention converts the harmful effect of uncontrolled return into a beneficial controlled discharge mechanism. When uncontrolled return occurs and the stem impacts the head, the extraction-preventing shoulder deforms and intentionally creates a discharge passage, transforming the harmful impact into a controlled safety valve that prevents more severe damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The extraction-preventing shoulder transitions from a static retention structure to a dynamic safety mechanism. Under normal operation, it maintains its shape to prevent stem extraction. During uncontrolled return, it deforms dynamically to create a discharge passage, adapting its function based on the operational conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the extraction-preventing shoulder is made rigid to prevent head extraction, then the head is securely retained, but the gas discharge capability during uncontrolled return is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehead retention in jacketVSAvoidgas pressure buildup

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The extraction-preventing shoulder is designed with specific material and geometric parameters that allow it to change state under extreme conditions. It maintains its rigid form at normal operating pressures to secure the head, but is engineered to deform at the high pressures encountered during uncontrolled return, creating a discharge passage when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 design effectively prevents uncontrolled ejection of the stem-piston and ensures safe gas discharge, maintaining system integrity and operator safety while maintaining performance comparable to standard actuators.

Implementation Method 1

said extraction-preventing shoulder being intended to deform, reducing its own diametrical space occupation in case of uncontrolled return in an axial direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDeformation: Deformation

Data Source

PatentUS10514051B2Gas cylinder actuator with safety device

Publication Date: 2019.12.24 SPECIAL SPRINGS SRL

AI summary

A gas cylinder actuator with safely device, comprisinga tubular containment jacket,two opposite heads for closing the tubular jacket, with corresponding sealing elements between the heads and the jacket, a first head having a through hole for the passage of a stem-piston, and a second opposite head,a stem-piston,between the tubular jacket, the heads and the stem-piston there being a chamber for pressurized gas, wherein at least one head of the two heads is constituted by a body that is separate with respect to the tubular jacket and is retained in the tubular jacket by means of an extraction-preventing shoulder that protrudes from the body of the head and is adapted to abut against a corresponding internal annular protrusion that protrudes radially from the internal surface of the tubular jacket.