Adjustable Piston Actuator With Field-Tuned Chamber Volume
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing piston actuators require multiple components with different stroke lengths and volumes, leading to increased costs and logistical issues due to the need for various parts, as changing stroke lengths does not adjust the overall chamber volume, potentially compromising dynamic performance.
Innovation Solution
Field adjustable piston actuators with a volume adjuster mechanism, such as C-shaped or L-shaped clamps, tie rods, and externally accessible shafts, allow for incremental adjustment of the chamber volume without altering the overall actuator design, enabling use in different applications with varying stroke length requirements without compromising performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If different size travel stops are interchanged to change stroke lengths, then the stroke length of the actuator is adjusted, but the chamber volume remains the same and may be too large for particular applications
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator employs adjustable travel stops that can be repositioned along the piston rod, allowing both stroke length and chamber volume to be dynamically adjusted. The travel stops are mounted on adjustable supports that can be positioned at different locations within the chamber, enabling the operator to optimize both parameters for specific applications rather than being fixed at factory settings.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention allows changing the physical parameters of the actuator by repositioning the travel stops to different locations within the chamber. This enables adjustment of both stroke length (distance between stop positions) and chamber volume (space available for pneumatic/hydraulic fluid), providing flexible parameter optimization for different control valve applications without requiring multiple different actuator models.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple actuators with different stroke lengths and volumes are stocked for different applications, then various applications can be served, but costs and logistical complexities increase
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator is designed as a universal platform that can serve multiple applications through adjustable travel stops. A single actuator model with an adjustable travel stop mechanism can replace multiple fixed-stroke actuator models, allowing one device to perform the functions of several different actuators by simply repositioning the travel stops to achieve different stroke lengths and chamber volumes.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable travel stop mechanism transforms a static actuator into a dynamic, reconfigurable device. The travel stops can be moved to different positions along the piston rod, enabling the same actuator to adapt to different stroke length requirements and chamber volume constraints, thereby reducing the need to maintain inventory of multiple different actuator types.
3Ease of manufacture
If a fixed chamber volume is used in the actuator design, then manufacturing is simplified, but dynamic performance may be compromised for specific applications
Solution Approach 1:
While maintaining a standard chamber housing for manufacturing efficiency, the invention introduces adjustable travel stops that allow the effective chamber volume to be optimized for each application. The chamber housing can be produced using standard manufacturing processes, while the adjustable travel stops provide the flexibility to fine-tune the effective volume and stroke length to achieve optimal dynamic performance without requiring custom-manufactured chambers for each application.
Data Source
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AI summary
A field adjustable piston actuator comprising a housing having opposing openings and a chamber; a first plate (1110) coupled to the housing and adjacent one of the opposing openings, wherein the first plate covers the one opening; a second plate (1120) coupled to a yoke and the housing, wherein the second plate is adjacent the other one of the opposing openings; and a volume adjuster to provide field adjustment to change a volume of the chamber.