Air Cylinder Fall Prevention Mechanism Retrofit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fall prevention mechanisms for air cylinder apparatuses are difficult to apply to already-installed systems without modifying the cylinder body or piston rod, making them ineffective in preventing piston rod falls due to air leakage or supply malfunctions.
Innovation Solution
An air cylinder apparatus equipped with a fall prevention mechanism that includes a fixed member, brake members supported by the frame, a biasing member to lock the piston rod, and a lock-release air mechanism using the existing pressurized air source to maintain the brake members in a non-contact position with the piston rod, allowing for easy installation without modifying the existing apparatus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional fall prevention mechanism is provided between the cylinder body and piston rod, then the piston rod can be locked at an ascending position, but the mechanism cannot be applied to already-installed air cylinder apparatus without modifying the cylinder body or piston rod
Solution Approach 1:
The fall prevention mechanism is divided into separate functional components: a frame member that can be independently installed, brake members that are detachably attached, and a lock-release air mechanism that operates independently. This segmentation allows the mechanism to be added to existing air cylinder apparatus without modifying the original cylinder body or piston rod structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame member acts as an intermediary structure that bridges the gap between the existing air cylinder apparatus and the fall prevention functionality. It provides mounting points for brake members and houses the lock-release air mechanism, enabling fall prevention without direct modification to the original components.
2Device complexity
If the lock-release air mechanism uses a common pressurized air source with the air cylinder apparatus, then the system complexity is reduced, but the fall prevention mechanism must remain in a ready-to-lock state requiring air pressure to maintain the unlocked position
Solution Approach 1:
The lock-release air mechanism utilizes the existing pressurized air supply system of the air cylinder apparatus, eliminating the need for a separate air source. The mechanism automatically responds to air pressure changes in the system, locking the piston rod when air pressure is lost and releasing when pressure is restored, thereby using the system's own operational state to control the safety function.
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 solution effectively prevents the piston rod from falling during air supply malfunctions without altering the cylinder body or piston rod, enabling easy retrofitting of existing air cylinder apparatuses and providing a reliable fall prevention mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing member which presses the plurality of brake members against the piston rod to lock the piston rod to the fixed member
Implementation Method 2
a lock-release air mechanism which holds, against a biasing force of the biasing member, the brake members in a non-contact position with the piston rod, the lock-release air mechanism operating by a pressurized air source
Data Source
AI summary
An air cylinder apparatus equipped with a fall prevention mechanism, wherein the air cylinder apparatus includes a cylinder body and a piston rod which advances and retreats by supplying and discharging pressurized air to and from the cylinder body, and wherein the fall prevention mechanism includes a fixed member which is immovable with respect to the cylinder body; a plurality of brake members which are supported by the fixed member to be capable of coming into and out of contact with the fixed member; a biasing member which presses the plurality of brake members against the piston rod to lock the piston rod to the fixed member; and a lock-release air mechanism which holds, against a biasing force of the biasing member, the brake members in a non-contact position with the piston rod, the lock-release air mechanism operating by a pressurized air source that is common with that of the air cylinder apparatus.