Fluid Compressor Valve Line Contact Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fluid compressors generate significant noise due to surface contact between the valve and the compression unit during opening and closing, leading to increased collision noise.
Innovation Solution
The fluid compressor design incorporates a valve and retainer configuration that maintains line contact instead of surface contact by using spacing members to keep the valve and retainer apart from the compression unit, with the retainer optionally formed as a stack of plates to enhance damping efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the valve is fixed to the compression unit with one end portion, then the valve can be repeatedly opened and closed for fluid compression, but the bottom surface of the valve repeatedly contacts the compression unit surface generating significant noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the contact dimension from surface contact (2D) to line contact (1D) by positioning the valve to contact the compression unit at its side surface rather than the bottom surface. This dimensional reduction in contact area significantly reduces the noise generated during repeated opening and closing operations while maintaining the valve's functional movement.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If spacing members are used to maintain distance between the valve and compression unit, then line contact is achieved reducing noise, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces spacing members as intermediary elements between the valve and the retainer/compression unit. These spacing members maintain a predetermined distance to ensure line contact geometry, preventing direct surface contact and reducing noise. The intermediary elements are strategically positioned to achieve the noise reduction goal while minimizing structural complexity.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the retainer is formed as a stack of multiple plates, then damping force is enhanced and noise is reduced, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the retainer into multiple stacked plates instead of using a single solid structure. This segmentation provides several benefits: it enhances damping force through the layered structure, maintains line contact geometry for noise reduction, and simplifies manufacturing by allowing each plate to be produced separately and then stacked. The segmented approach balances noise reduction performance with manufacturing ease.
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 configuration significantly reduces noise generated during valve operation by minimizing collision noise through line contact, resulting in a quieter and more efficient compression process.
Implementation Method 1
The valve may move elastically to be repeatedly open and closed
Implementation Method 2
a valve and a retainer for limiting the displacement of the valve into line contact during opening and closing of the valve
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid compressor is provided. The fluid compressor includes a case including an inlet configured to introduce fluid to be compressed, a compression unit including a compression chamber configured to compress the fluid introduced into the case, and a discharge port configured to discharge the compressed fluid to the outside of the compression chamber, a motor configured to drive the compression unit, and a valve configured to open and close the discharge port. The valve includes a fastening portion coupled to the compression unit to be spaced a first distance from the discharge port.