Backpressure Regulator Movable Membrane Sections

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing material pressure regulators complicate the passage of fluid media, causing shearing stresses and asymmetries in flow, which negatively affect the quality of fluids like paint, and fail to maintain constant pressure effectively.

Innovation Solution

A material pressure regulator with a variable pressure chamber using movable membrane sections and pistons, adjustable by counter-pressure, ensures optimal medium flow and pressure regulation, featuring a symmetrical and linear flow area to minimize shearing stresses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the pressure chamber has a complicated passage for the medium to maintain the pressure, then the pressure can be maintained constant, but the medium is exposed to strong shearing stresses which has a negative effect on the quality of the medium

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure maintenanceVSAvoidshearing stresses on medium
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure chamber is divided into multiple segments or chambers arranged in series, where the medium flows through each segment sequentially. This segmentation allows the pressure to be maintained through the series arrangement while reducing the shearing stress in any single segment compared to a single complicated passage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using a single complex passage to maintain pressure, the invention inverts the approach by using multiple simpler passages arranged in series, where the cumulative effect maintains pressure while each individual passage has reduced shearing stress on the medium.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If changes in cross section in regular operation lead to further asymmetries in the flow, then the pressure regulation is adjusted, but additional shearing stresses are generated on the medium

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure regulationVSAvoidadditional shearing stresses
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses symmetrical flow paths instead of asymmetrical ones. By designing the pressure chamber with symmetrical geometry and flow paths, the flow remains balanced and symmetrical during pressure regulation, preventing the generation of additional shearing stresses on the medium.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The flow conditions are made as homogeneous as possible by ensuring uniform cross-sectional changes and symmetrical flow paths throughout the pressure chamber. This homogeneity prevents localized asymmetries that would generate excessive shearing stresses on the medium during pressure regulation operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #33Homogeneity

3Stress or pressure

If the cross section of the pressure chamber is reduced to increase pressure, then the pressure rises again, but the medium flow path becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure levelVSAvoidflow path complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stress or pressureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure chamber is segmented into multiple sections that can independently adjust their cross-sections. This segmentation allows pressure control through coordinated movement of multiple simpler components rather than a single complex variable cross-section, reducing overall flow path complexity while maintaining pressure regulation capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 maintains constant pressure with reduced shearing stresses and flow asymmetries, ensuring the quality and distribution characteristics of fluid media like paint are preserved.

Implementation Method 1

the wall of the pressure chamber is made up of several movable sections... the cross section of the pressure chamber is reduced so that the pressure rises again

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the pressure at the inlet of the pressure chamber can be adjusted by means of a counter-pressure to the pressure of the medium, which is set by applying a pressure medium, such as usually compressed air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCounter-pressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentEP3401020B1Material pressure controller
Publication Date: 2020.08.05 TIMMER GMBH
  • EP3401020B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to a material pressure regulator, preferably a backpressure regulator, for regulating the pressure of a flowable medium, in particular a liquid and/or a gas, with a pressure chamber (12) through which the medium flows from an inlet (13) to an outlet (14). The cross-section of the pressure chamber (12) is variable for adjusting the pressure at the inlet (13) of the pressure chamber (12) by means of a backpressure across the wall of the pressure chamber (12). The material pressure regulator is characterized in that the wall of the pressure chamber (12) is formed from several movable sections.