Cooling System Volume Compensation Piston Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling systems for electronic components and injection molding molds face pressure increases due to coolant temperature rises, leading to potential ruptures and inefficiencies, particularly when the coolant circulation duct is disconnected from the supply, as they rely on sensitive spring mechanisms for volume compensation.
Innovation Solution
A cooling system with a volume compensation device featuring a piston that slides sealably within the heat exchange plate, utilizing radially movable locking members like balls to maintain the piston in a retracted position during disconnection, thereby increasing the coolant volume without the need for a spring or operator intervention, ensuring pressure regulation without leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spring mechanism is used to compensate for coolant volume changes, then pressure variations can be limited, but the device becomes sensitive to small pressure variations and requires excellent control of elastic return force and friction forces
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the spring mechanism from the system and replaces it with a maintaining member that uses the connector's own structural elements (locking balls, conical surfaces) to achieve piston positioning. This eliminates the need for separate spring components and their associated control complexities while maintaining pressure compensation functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The maintaining member serves multiple functions: it positions the piston in the retracted position during disconnection, locks the piston during connection, and works with the connector's closing mechanism. This multi-functionality replaces what would otherwise require separate spring and friction control systems.
2Reliability
If a piston with spring is used for volume compensation, then pressure increases can be managed, but the system requires operator intervention to arm the compensation device upon each disconnection/reconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The maintaining member automatically positions the piston based on the connector's state (connected or disconnected) without requiring operator intervention. The locking balls and conical surfaces self-actuate during the normal connection and disconnection operations, making the system self-servicing.
Solution Approach 2:
The maintaining member pre-positions the piston in the retracted state before connection occurs, and automatically locks it during the connection process. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need for operator arming actions that would otherwise be required before each connection.
3Productivity
If the coolant circulation duct is disconnected from the supply while hot components transmit calories to the coolant, then the coolant undergoes temperature and pressure increase, but this causes ruptures in the duct or connection elements
Solution Approach 1:
The maintaining member pre-positions the piston to create additional coolant volume capacity before disconnection occurs. When the duct is disconnected and pressure increases, the piston can move forward to accommodate the expanding coolant, cushioning against pressure-induced ruptures before they can occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the available volume parameter dynamically by allowing the piston to move between retracted and extended positions. This volume adjustment compensates for thermal expansion of the coolant during disconnection, preventing dangerous pressure increases while maintaining cooling efficiency during operation.
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
The system effectively manages pressure increases by increasing the coolant volume, preventing duct ruptures and maintaining efficient cooling without the reliance on spring mechanisms, ensuring reliable operation across multiple connections and disconnections.
Implementation Method 1
a piston (230) mounted able to slide sealably relative to the plate
Implementation Method 2
utilizing radially movable locking members like balls to maintain the piston in a retracted position
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling system that includes a heat exchange plate defining a coolant circulation duct and equipped with connector elements each having a closure member for opening and closing the connector elements to the coolant circulation duct, a volume compensating device including a piston mounted to slide, relative to the plate, between a first retracted position and a second forward position, and wherein the system includes a coolant supply for the duct and a coolant discharge for the duct each of which includes connecting elements complementary to the connector elements of the plate, and wherein a maintaining member is secured to at least a first complementary connector element to lock the piston in the first position, when a first connector element of the plate and the first complementary connecting element are coupled, and retains the piston in the first position, during separation of the first connector element of the plate and the first complementary connecting element and until the closure member of the first connector element close any flow through the connector element.