Bridging Cam Assembly for Linear Piston Motion Without Side Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid dispensers face issues with non-axially directed forces causing leakage and pump failure, requiring separate mechanical arrangements to guide piston elements linearly, which complicates the design and increases the risk of malfunction.
Innovation Solution
A bridging element is introduced between a pivoting lever and a linearly sliding slide element, with camming surfaces that deform to translate arcuate motion into linear motion, ensuring forces are applied parallel to the piston's movement, thus reducing the risk of leakage and simplifying the design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If arcuate motion of a lever is directly applied to a piston element, then the lever can be manually operated, but non-axially directed forces are applied to the piston element causing leakage and pump failure
Solution Approach 1:
A bridge member is introduced as an intermediary component between the lever and the piston element. This bridge member translates the arcuate motion of the lever into linear motion of the piston element through engagement with camming surfaces, ensuring that only axially directed forces are applied to the piston element, thereby preventing leakage and pump failure while maintaining manual operability
2Reliability
If separate mechanical arrangements are provided to guide the piston element linearly, then pump failure is avoided, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bridge member combines multiple functions into a single component: it guides the piston element linearly through engagement with camming surfaces, translates arcuate lever motion into linear piston motion, and ensures axially directed forces are applied. This merging of functions reduces the number of separate mechanical arrangements needed while maintaining pump reliability
3Length of moving object
If the piston element is moved over greater distances, then increased stroke is achieved, but the mechanical arrangement becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The camming surfaces utilize curved geometry to translate the arcuate motion of the lever into extended linear stroke of the piston element. The curved camming surfaces allow for greater piston travel distance while maintaining a compact mechanical arrangement, as the geometry of the camming surfaces naturally guides the bridge member through the required motion path
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
This solution enables efficient linear movement of the piston element over greater distances, enhancing flow velocities and reducing the complexity and cost of the dispensing mechanism, while maintaining pump reliability.
Implementation Method 1
the bridge member being deformed to assume the shape of the camming surface where the bridge member engages the camming surface
Data Source
AI summary
A simplified arrangement for the translation of movement as, for example, arcuate movement as from a lever into movement which is different as for example, in a linear direction with a slide element preferably comprising a piston in a piston pump. In accordance with a preferred aspect, the present invention provides a bridging element which is disposed intermediate a pivoting lever and a linearly sliding slide element with the bridging member being retained in engagement with camming surfaces having an arcuate portion at a constant distance from the pivot axis of the lever and tangentially merging into a linear portion which is parallel to a longitudinal axis along which the slide element is slidable. The bridging member is slidable relative to the camming surface with the bridging member deforming to assume the shape of the camming surface where the bridge member engages the camming surface. Movement of the lever about the pivot axis moves a first end of the bridge member in an arcuate path where it engages the arcuate portion of the camming surfaces and moves a second end of the bridging member connected to the slide element in a linear direction along the linear portion of the camming surfaces.