Air Compressor Cylinder with Segmented Exit Holes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air compressors with a single exit hole face increased resistance and reduced piston motion smoothness due to back pressure from stored air, leading to slower inflation speeds and potential motor overheating.
Innovation Solution
The air compressor features a cylinder with multiple exit holes of equal dimension, regulated by a control mechanism including O-rings and a resilient sheet with branches, allowing compressed air to enter the storage container quickly, reducing resistance and enhancing piston motion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single exit hole is used in the cylinder, then the valve mechanism structure is simple, but the air transfer speed is slow and piston motion resistance is high
Solution Approach 1:
The single exit hole is segmented into multiple exit holes (first exit hole and second exit hole) in the cylinder. This segmentation allows compressed air to escape through multiple pathways simultaneously, significantly increasing the air transfer speed and reducing the resistance force acting on the piston body during reciprocating motion.
2Device complexity
If a single exit hole is used in the cylinder, then the device structure is simple, but the piston motion smoothness deteriorates due to high resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The cylinder is modified to include multiple exit holes instead of a single hole. This segmentation reduces the resistance force on the piston body by providing multiple escape routes for compressed air, thereby improving piston motion smoothness and reducing operational resistance during reciprocating motion.
3Device complexity
If a single exit hole is used, then the valve mechanism is simple, but the motor is subject to excessive stress and overheating risk
Solution Approach 1:
The valve mechanism is enhanced by adding multiple exit holes to the cylinder. This modification reduces the resistance force on the piston body, enabling smoother reciprocating motion and reducing the overall stress on the motor. Consequently, the motor operates under lower stress conditions, reducing overheating risk and improving reliability.
4Productivity
If multiple exit holes are provided, then the air transfer speed increases, but the sealing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a resilient sheet with multiple branches as a sealing structure. Each branch corresponds to an exit hole and can flexibly open or close to control air flow. This flexible membrane approach simplifies the sealing mechanism compared to rigid valve structures, allowing multiple exit holes to be effectively sealed and controlled.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple individual sealing elements (branches of the resilient sheet) are merged into a single integrated structure. This unified resilient sheet design simplifies the overall sealing system while maintaining the ability to control multiple exit holes, reducing the complexity that would otherwise arise from having separate sealing mechanisms for each hole.
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 enables smoother piston motion and increased performance by facilitating faster air transfer, improving inflation speed and reducing motor stress.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient sheet with branches, allowing compressed air to enter the storage container quickly
Implementation Method 2
a valve mechanism, which generally includes a plug and a compression spring, so that the exit hole can be opened or closed properly according to the pressure of the compressed air
Implementation Method 3
the compressed air produced in the cylinder can overcome the compressive force of the compression spring to enter the inner space of the air compressor
Data Source
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AI summary
An improved air compressor includes a cylinder (2) that is fitted with a piston body (14) and defines at its top wall (21) a plurality of exit holes (4, 5, 6) which are approximately equal in diameter and can be regulated by a resilient sheet (7) having a plurality of branches (72, 73, 74) to enable the cylinder (2) to communicate with an air storage container (3). The exit holes (4, 5, 6) are normally sealed by the branches (72, 73, 74) of the resilient sheet (7) with the assistance of compression springs (82, 83, 84) when the air compressor is not in operation. The exit holes (4, 5, 6) allow the compressed air produced in the cylinder (2) to quickly enter the air storage container (3), so that the piston body (14) can conduct reciprocating motion more smoothly and thus the performance of the air compressor can be increased.