Air Compressor Structure Using Pressure-Driven Anti-Return Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air compressor structures face issues with anti-return valves due to limitations in spring elasticity and rubber plug hardness, leading to incomplete closure or opening of passages, and fatigue over time.
Innovation Solution
An air compressor structure incorporating a cylinder, piston, cover, and a movably disposed anti-return piece that opens and seals air holes based on airflow and vacuum pressure differences, allowing compressed air to flow into the cover during the piston's forward stroke and sealing the holes during the return stroke.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spring and rubber plug are used as anti-return valve, then the passage can be controlled to open or close, but the passage cannot be completely closed or opened due to spring elasticity limitations and rubber hardness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the spring component from the anti-return valve structure, extracting the elastic element that causes incomplete closure. The anti-return piece is made of elastic material but operates without a spring, using only the pressure differential between compressed air and vacuum to achieve complete passage closure and opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical spring-based anti-return valve with a pressure-differential-driven system. The anti-return piece responds to the pressure difference between the compressed air side and vacuum side, eliminating the need for spring elasticity while achieving more reliable passage control.
2Reliability
If spring elasticity is used to drive the rubber plug, then the passage can open, but the passage may not open due to excessive elastic force or spring fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
The spring component is completely removed from the system. The anti-return piece operates without spring elasticity, using only the pressure differential generated by the piston's reciprocating motion to achieve reliable opening and closing throughout the entire service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the pressure differential generated by its own operation (piston reciprocating motion creating compressed air and vacuum) to drive the anti-return piece, eliminating the need for separate spring energy storage and release mechanisms.
3Device complexity
If a simple anti-return piece is used without spring, then the structure is simplified, but the anti-return piece must rely on pressure difference to function
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating parameter from spring elasticity to pressure differential. The anti-return piece responds to the pressure difference between compressed air and vacuum, which is naturally generated during piston reciprocating motion, enabling simple yet reliable operation without complex spring mechanisms.
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 anti-return piece effectively controls airflow direction with a simpler structure, overcoming the limitations of traditional anti-return valves by ensuring complete passage closure and opening without relying on springs or rubber plugs, thus enhancing durability and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
When the piston performs a second stroke, a vacuum is formed in the cylinder as soon as the piston moves away from the air holes. The anti-return piece is driven by the vacuum and compressed air to cover and seal the air holes.
Implementation Method 2
the vacuum and the compressed air cause a pressure difference on the anti-return piece, thereby driving the anti-return piece to cover and seal the air holes
Implementation Method 3
When the piston performs a first stroke, the piston compresses the air in the cylinder and transfers the compressed air to the cover through the air holes. The compressed air also drives the anti-return piece to be lifted relative to the air holes
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an air compressor structure, including a cylinder, a piston, a cover, and an anti-return piece. The cylinder has multiple air holes. The piston is reciprocally coupled in the cylinder. The cover is assembled to the cylinder and has a column. Internal spaces of the cylinder and the cover are connected through the air holes. The anti-return piece is movably disposed between the cylinder and the cover. When the piston performs a first stroke, the piston moves close to the air holes to compress air in the cylinder. The compressed air passes through the air holes and lifts the anti-return piece to flow into the cover. When the piston performs a second stroke, a vacuum is formed in the cylinder as soon as the piston moves away from the air holes. The anti-return piece is driven by the vacuum and compressed air to cover and seal the air holes.