Cylinder Piston Position Detection via Pressure Derivatives
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cylinder operating condition monitoring devices face challenges in detecting piston position without installing sensors near the cylinder, particularly in environments where sensors may corrode, such as food preparation facilities, leading to increased costs for ensuring liquid resistance.
Innovation Solution
A monitoring device that determines piston position based on time derivative values of pressure changes in cylinder chambers, eliminating the need for sensors near the cylinder by using pressure detection units in fluid supply tubes, thus preventing corrosion and reducing installation costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If position detecting sensors are installed in the vicinity of the cylinder to detect piston position, then detection accuracy is improved, but the risk of corrosion from cleaning liquids increases and costs rise due to required liquid resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the position detection function from the cylinder vicinity by using pressure detection units located in fluid supply tubes. Instead of placing sensors near the cylinder where they would be exposed to cleaning liquids, the system uses pressure changes in the fluid supply path to infer piston position, thereby removing the sensor from the harmful environment while maintaining detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces pressure changes in the fluid supply tube as an intermediary to transmit position information. Rather than directly measuring piston position with a sensor near the cylinder, the system uses fluid pressure as a mediator that carries position information from the piston to the pressure detection unit located in a safe environment
2Ease of operation
If position detecting sensors and associated wiring are installed near the cylinder, then piston arrival detection is enabled, but installation costs and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the need for complex sensor installation and wiring near the cylinder by extracting the detection function to the fluid supply system. The pressure detection units are integrated into the existing fluid supply tubes, eliminating the need for separate sensor mounting and electrical wiring in the cylinder vicinity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the fluid supply system serve multiple functions: it not only supplies fluid to operate the piston but also acts as the sensing medium for position detection. The existing fluid supply tubes are utilized for dual purposes, eliminating the need for separate detection infrastructure
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
Enables accurate detection of piston position without local sensors, suitable for use in facilities like food preparation areas, avoiding sensor and wiring corrosion and reducing operational expenses.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure detection unit adapted to detect a pressure value inside a tube that supplies fluid to or discharges fluid from the first cylinder chamber or the second cylinder chamber
Implementation Method 2
a determination unit adapted to determine, based on a time derivative value of a pressure of the first cylinder chamber or the second cylinder chamber, whether or not the piston has arrived at the one end or the other end inside the cylinder main body
Data Source
AI summary
A monitoring device including a microcomputer of a detector that calculates a first time derivative value by differentiating a first pressure value with respect to time, and/or calculates a second time derivative value by differentiating a second pressure value with respect to time. In addition, based on at least one from among the first time derivative value and the second time derivative value, the microcomputer determines whether or not the piston has arrived at one end or another end inside the cylinder main body.