Decoupling Accumulator for Cementitious Material Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing material delivery systems for extruding cementitious materials face challenges in accurately controlling the rate of material extrusion due to pressure changes caused by expanding hoses and gas bubbles, leading to inconsistent quality in constructed structures.
Innovation Solution
A decoupling accumulator system that includes a reservoir, a piston, and a pressure applicator, which maintains a constant pressure and uses a detection system to regulate the material flow, ensuring consistent delivery and separate streams for different curing rates through a flow divider and chemical agents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a remote pump is used to deliver cementitious material, then the material can be delivered from a distance, but pressure changes occur due to hose expansion and gas bubble compression, leading to inaccurate pressure control at the nozzle
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the material delivery function into two independent parts: a remote pump that handles material transfer and a local accumulator that handles pressure control. This separation allows the pump to operate at a distance while the accumulator maintains precise pressure at the nozzle, resolving the contradiction between delivery distance and pressure control accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The accumulator acts as an intermediary component between the remote pump and the nozzle. It receives material from the pump and independently regulates pressure using a pressure applicator, isolating the nozzle from pressure fluctuations caused by hose expansion and gas bubble compression during remote delivery.
2Adaptability or versatility
If hoses are used to transport material, then flexible delivery is achieved, but hoses expand and contract causing pressure fluctuations that affect extrusion consistency
Solution Approach 1:
The accumulator serves as an intermediary that decouples the flexible hose delivery system from the precision extrusion requirement. The hose provides flexible material transport to the accumulator, while the accumulator's rigid pressure control system ensures consistent extrusion pressure, isolating the extrusion process from hose expansion and contraction effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The accumulator预先 absorbs and compensates for pressure fluctuations before material reaches the nozzle. By maintaining a reservoir of pressurized material and using a pressure applicator to regulate output pressure, it cushions against the adverse effects of hose expansion and contraction, ensuring consistent extrusion.
3Productivity
If gas bubbles are present in the material, then material flow is maintained, but bubbles compress and expand causing pressure changes that affect delivery accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The accumulator acts as an intermediary pressure buffer between the material source and nozzle. Gas bubbles are allowed to exist in the reservoir without affecting nozzle pressure, as the pressure applicator independently maintains constant pressure at the outlet, isolating the bubble compression/expansion effects from the extrusion process.
Solution Approach 2:
The accumulator预先 compensates for pressure changes caused by gas bubble compression and expansion. The pressure applicator maintains constant output pressure despite volume changes in the reservoir caused by bubble behavior, cushioning the extrusion process from these fluctuations and maintaining delivery accuracy.
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 ensures consistent and controlled extrusion of cementitious materials, allowing for precise construction of structures with separate curing rates for outer and inner shell walls, enhancing the quality and efficiency of the construction process.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure applicator configured to apply pressure to the cementitious material that is delivered from the accumulator outlet
Implementation Method 2
The piston may have a pushing surface and an opening within the pushing surface. The hollow shaft may be attached to the piston such that cementitious material may flow from the accumulator inlet through the opening in the pushing surface of the piston
Data Source
AI summary
A cementitious material delivery system may include a pump configured to pump cementitious material and an accumulator. The accumulator may be a decoupling accumulator and may contain a reservoir configured to store cementitious material, an accumulator inlet to the reservoir configured to receive cementitious material pumped by the pump, an accumulator outlet configured to deliver cementitious material from the reservoir, and a pressure applicator configured to apply pressure to the cementitious material that is delivered from the accumulator outlet.