Pressure Buffer Flow Path Wear Reduction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Manufacturing of flow path forming portions for pressure buffer devices faces challenges due to wear issues when stacked, requiring methods to suppress wear and facilitate easy manufacturing, especially in sections with complex shapes.

Innovation Solution

The pressure buffer device incorporates a flow path forming portion with a first protruded portion for contact with the opening-closing mechanism and a second protruded portion tilted at an angle, which is radially positioned to avoid contact and reduce wear, allowing for easier manufacturing through molding processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If flow path forming portions are stacked for manufacturing, then manufacturing efficiency is improved, but wear occurs at contact sections between stacked portions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing efficiencyVSAvoidwear resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the problematic contact section by positioning the second protruded portion such that its end in the axial direction is located at a radially outer side of the first protruded portion. This spatial separation prevents contact between stacked flow path forming portions at critical sections, eliminating wear while maintaining manufacturing efficiency through stacking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from a single-axis alignment problem to a two-dimensional spatial arrangement by using both radial and axial positioning. The second protruded portion is arranged radially outward relative to the first protruded portion, creating a non-contact configuration in the radial direction while maintaining axial stacking for manufacturing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If flow path forming portions have complex shapes for functional requirements, then device performance is improved, but manufacturing difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice performanceVSAvoidmanufacturing difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The flow path forming portion is segmented into multiple functional protruded portions (first and second protruded portions) with distinct functions. The first protruded portion contacts the opening-closing portion for flow control, while the second protruded portion provides structural support without contacting adjacent stacked components. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized for its specific function while simplifying the overall manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If protruded portions are positioned to contact for functional operation, then device functionality is improved, but wear and manufacturing complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice functionalityVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies local quality by providing contact functionality only where needed (first protruded portion contacting the opening-closing portion) while eliminating contact at other locations (second protruded portion positioned radially outward). This localized contact approach maintains essential device functionality while reducing overall structural complexity and wear risks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3211264B1Pressure buffer device and flow path forming member
Publication Date: 2019.12.25 SHOWA CORP
  • EP3211264B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3211264B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3211264B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

One embodiment provides a pressure buffer device including: a cylinder that stores fluid; a flow path forming portion that forms a flow path; and an opening-closing portion that opens and closes the flow path of the flow path forming portion. The fluid flows through the flow path forming portion in accordance with relative movement of a rod with respect to the cylinder in an axial direction of the cylinder. The flow path forming portion includes an annular first protruded portion and an annular second protruded portion protruded in the axial direction in opposite sides respectively. The second protruded portion has an axial end located at a radially outer side of the first protruded portion, and a tilt portion formed at least at a part of a radially-inner part of the second protruded portion.