Differential Cylinder Damping for Circuit Breaker Piston Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydromechanical stored-energy spring mechanisms are inflexible and difficult to adapt for different applications due to their specific design for a particular use, making it challenging to achieve a final piston rod speed below a predetermined threshold before reaching an end stop, regardless of working pressure or mass moved.
Innovation Solution
A differential cylinder with an automatically set damping device featuring a damping chamber and a closure element with spring properties, which regulates damping pressure to control piston movement and prevent end stop impact, allowing for application-neutral manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If specific geometrical design of damping is devised for each individual application, then the damping can be optimized for that particular use, but the production becomes inflexible and tied to particular applications
Solution Approach 1:
The closure element is designed to be movable within the damping device, allowing the damping characteristics to change dynamically based on operating conditions rather than being fixed for a specific application. This enables a single design to adapt to different working pressures and masses.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping device allows parameters such as damping pressure and closure element position to change automatically based on the working conditions. The closure element responds to pressure changes and mass variations, adjusting the damping effect without requiring redesign for each application.
2Speed
If the spring arrangement is triggered and working pressure builds up quickly, then the piston can be moved with high acceleration force, but the piston may strike the end stop with excessive speed causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The damping device is pre-configured with a closure element and oil passages designed to provide cushioning before the piston reaches the end stop. As the piston approaches, the damping device automatically engages to reduce speed, preventing impact damage without affecting the initial acceleration phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure element acts as an intermediary between the high-pressure system and the piston. It mediates the transition from high acceleration to controlled deceleration by regulating oil flow through the damping device, protecting the system from direct impact.
3Extent of automation
If a closure element with spring properties is used to regulate damping pressure, then the damping can be automatically adjusted, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The closure element with spring properties serves itself by automatically responding to pressure changes and mass variations. It self-regulates the damping pressure without requiring external control systems, sensors, or complex actuation mechanisms, achieving automation through passive elastic response.
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 flexible manufacturing of hydromechanical drives that can achieve desired switching behavior for electrical circuit breakers by automatically setting damping to reduce piston speed before reaching an end stop, independent of the subsequent system's requirements.
Implementation Method 1
a closure element, which is clamped securely in place and has spring properties, being arranged underneath the oil passages, the closure element clamped securely in place being subjected to a prevailing damping pressure on an oil passage, of the plurality of oil passages, closed by it, for regulating the damping pressure
Implementation Method 2
a damping device which, in an event of a movement of the piston in a direction of the second pressure region, provides damping with respect to the movement of the piston in a section of the range of movement
Data Source
AI summary
A differential cylinder for a hydro-mechanical drive for actuating an electric switch, for example, a high-voltage switch, can include a first pressure area to be loaded with an operating pressure, a second pressure area, and a piston which can be moved in a movement range as a function of the pressure difference between the first and second pressure area. A damping device is provided which, during a movement of the piston in the direction of the second pressure area in one section of the movement range, provides damping against the movement of the piston, wherein the damping is adjustable.