Compressor Piston Drive Mechanism for Compact Air Ejection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing compressors used in on-vehicle camera systems for removing objects like water drops, snowflakes, dirt, dust, and mud from lenses have low ejection efficiency due to air leaks and complex channels, leading to a larger size and limited reduction in compressor size.
Innovation Solution
A compressor design featuring a piston housed in a case with a main shaft and countershaft, where the piston moves back and forth to compress air, and the countershaft prevents tilting, allowing for a more compact structure by utilizing the space between components for the drive mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the compressor uses a conventional design with many air leak points and complex channels, then the ejection efficiency is low, but the compressor size can be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The compressor is divided into distinct functional sections: a compression section with simplified air channels and a drive section with the motor. This segmentation allows the compression mechanism to have fewer air leak points while the drive section is compactly arranged, resolving the contradiction between ejection efficiency and size reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive mechanism is arranged in a different spatial dimension relative to the compression section. The motor is positioned adjacent to the piston assembly with its rotation axis extending in the axial direction, creating a compact three-dimensional layout that reduces overall compressor size while maintaining efficient air compression and ejection pathways.
2Volume of moving object
If the compressor is downsized by utilizing space between components, then the compressor size is reduced, but the piston movement stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The drive mechanism components are nested within the space between the piston assembly and the compressor housing. The motor, drive shaft, and connecting mechanisms are compactly arranged in this interstitial space, achieving downsizing without interfering with piston movement stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The piston assembly maintains high structural quality and stability in the compression region, while the drive mechanism in the adjacent region utilizes compact arrangements. This local differentiation ensures that piston movement stability is preserved in the compression zone while achieving overall size reduction through efficient space utilization in the drive zone.
3Productivity
If the compressor uses a simple channel design, then the ejection efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air channels are extracted and simplified to essential pathways only, removing unnecessary complex routing. The compression section features direct channels that lead from the compression chamber to the ejection outlet, eliminating redundant passages and reducing structural complexity while maintaining high ejection efficiency.
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 design enhances ejection efficiency while downsizing the compressor, reducing air leaks, and stabilizing piston movement, resulting in a more compact and effective air compression system.
Implementation Method 1
Fluid inside the case is compressed by movement of the compression board in the axis direction
Implementation Method 2
The main shaft...guides the piston to move in the axis direction...The countershaft...guides the piston to move along the axis direction
Data Source
AI summary
A compressor of an embodiment includes: a piston that is housed in a case and moves back and forth in an axis direction inside the case; a main shaft that i) extends in the axis direction inside the case, and ii) guides the piston to move in the axis direction; and a drive that drives the piston to move along the axis direction. The piston includes: a main shaft bush through which the main shaft passes in the axis direction; and a compression board that has an outer diameter greater than an outer diameter of the main shaft bush, and that is fixed to an end portion of the main shaft bush on a side in the axis direction. Fluid inside the case is compressed, and then is ejected to an outside of the case. The drive is arranged between the compression board and an end portion of the case.