Air Supply Distributor Timing Control Eliminates Limit Switch
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity of the massage apparatus configuration is increased due to the need for a limit switch to detect the position of the distributor, which is required to ensure that air cells reach atmospheric pressure during air supply and exhaust operations.
Innovation Solution
An air supply and exhaust device with a control circuit that causes the pump and distributor to operate simultaneously and then stops them after a predetermined time, eliminating the need for a limit switch by ensuring the distributor continues to operate until air cells reach atmospheric pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a limit switch is provided to detect the position of the distributor, then the air cell can reach atmospheric pressure reliably, but the device configuration becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the limit switch from the system by using a timing-based control approach. The control circuit stops the distributor based on a predetermined time period after the air supply pump stops, rather than using a physical position detection device. This extracts the problematic position detection component while maintaining the required functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical limit switch detection system with an electronic timing-based control system. Instead of using a mechanical switch to detect distributor position, the control circuit uses time-based logic to determine when to stop the distributor, substituting a mechanical detection system with an electronic control approach.
2Ease of operation
If the distributor is stopped immediately when air supply stops, then the device operation is simplified, but the air cell cannot reach atmospheric pressure properly
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit stops the distributor in advance based on a predetermined time period after the air supply pump stops. This preliminary timing action ensures that the distributor has sufficient time to complete the exhaust stroke and allow the air cell to reach atmospheric pressure before the distributor itself is stopped, maintaining reliable pressure transition.
Solution Approach 2:
The distributor continues to operate for a predetermined time period after the air supply pump stops, maintaining continuous useful action to ensure complete exhaust of the air cell. This extended operation period ensures that the air cell fully reaches atmospheric pressure before the distributor is stopped, maintaining the reliability of the pressure transition process.
Data Source
AI summary
An air supply and exhaust device including: a distributor configured to supply air by supplying air pressure from a pump sequentially to each of a plurality of air cells and exhaust air by supplying atmospheric pressure to the air cell to which air has been supplied; and a control circuit configured to cause the pump and the distributor to operate simultaneously during air supply and exhaust operation to the air cells, and stop the pump from operating and then stop the distributor from operating after a predetermined time has passed when the air supply and exhaust operation to the air cells is stopped, wherein the predetermined time is set to be longer than a time for the distributor to switch from a state of supplying air to one of the air cells to a state of exhausting air from the one of the air cells.