Composite Piston Cylinder for Hydrant Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The conventional piston cylinder fabrication process in hydrants is complex and costly due to the use of stainless steel bars requiring turning treatments, leading to material loss and increased production costs, and often results in poor sealing between metal surfaces and rubber pads, causing water leakage.
Innovation Solution
A stainless steel pipe is used with pre-formed water inlet and outlet holes, encased in a plastic sleeve member through injection molding, forming a composite piston cylinder that simplifies processing and reduces material costs while maintaining structural strength and achieving a watertight seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a stainless steel bar is processed with turning treatment to form the piston cylinder, then the structural strength is maintained, but the processing procedure becomes complicated and time-consuming, and material loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The piston cylinder is divided into two separate components: a stainless steel base pipe and a plastic sleeve member. The base pipe provides the structural strength and hydraulic function, while the plastic sleeve member provides the sealing surface and external geometry. This segmentation eliminates the need for complex turning treatments on solid steel, reducing processing complexity and time.
Solution Approach 2:
The piston cylinder uses a composite structure combining stainless steel (for strength and hydraulic integrity) and plastic material (for sealing and external features). The plastic sleeve member is injected over the stainless steel base pipe, creating a composite component that achieves both structural strength and sealing functionality without requiring complex metal machining operations.
2Strength
If a stainless steel bar is processed with turning treatment to form the piston cylinder, then the structural strength is maintained, but material loss increases and production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the piston cylinder into a base pipe and a separate plastic sleeve member, the design eliminates the need for substantial material removal through turning treatments. The plastic sleeve is formed by injection molding around the base pipe, minimizing material waste compared to machining solid steel bars.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite structure allows the stainless steel base pipe to retain its full structural integrity without requiring material removal, while the plastic sleeve member is added only where needed for sealing and external geometry. This reduces overall material loss and production cost while maintaining the required structural strength.
3Strength
If a metal surface of the piston set is used for sealing with rubber pads, then the structural strength is maintained, but the sealing relation becomes poor and water leakage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The piston cylinder is segmented into a stainless steel base pipe (providing structural strength) and a plastic sleeve member (providing sealing surfaces). The plastic sleeve member includes dedicated sealing surfaces that are optimally designed for rubber pad contact, ensuring reliable sealing without compromising the structural integrity provided by the steel base pipe.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite structure combines the strength advantages of stainless steel with the sealing advantages of plastic material. The plastic sleeve member provides smooth, reliable sealing surfaces that enhance the sealing relation with rubber pads, eliminating water leakage issues that occur with metal surfaces, while the steel base pipe maintains the required structural strength.
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 approach simplifies the manufacturing process, reduces stainless steel costs, and enhances sealing between the piston cylinder and rubber pads, providing better economic benefits and practicality in industrial use by maintaining structural integrity and functionality.
Implementation Method 1
a plastic sleeve member is injected into a mold for enclosing the stainless steel base pipe, so that the piston cylinder having composite materials is formed
Implementation Method 2
an excellent sealing relation is established between the metal surface of the piston set and the rubber pad
Data Source
AI summary
An improved hydrant structure with an integral piston set is provided with the hydrant main body having a valve chamber for receiving a water control valve. The water control valve is composed of a valve member, rubber pads, a piston cylinder with an integrally enclosed structure and a piston rod disposed inside the valve member, a valve rod, a cover, a valve cap, and a rotary button; the outer side of the piston cylinder is formed with different outer diameters, and the preset portions thereof are formed with a water inlet and a water outlet holes, such that the piston rod can be adjusted to alter the relative relation, thereby achieving functions of starting/terminating water supply and adjusting water mixing ratio. The piston cylinder with an integrally enclosed structure is formed through a stainless steel base pipe and a plastic sleeve member enclosing the exterior thereof.