Door Actuator Filter Housing Integration for Compact Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing door operators face contamination issues with the damping medium, particularly hydraulic oil, which affects the throttle valve and alters the damping and closing speed of doors uncontrollably, and there is a need for a more compact design while ensuring reliable filtering.
Innovation Solution
A door operator design where the filter and housing form a common fluid channel, allowing the damping medium to flow directly to the throttle valve, with the filter positioned to prevent contamination and adjustable flow rates, and additional filters in pressure chambers to ensure continuous filtering during both opening and closing movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a filter device is provided within the housing between the piston and the channel in which the throttle valve is located, then the throttle valve is protected from contamination, but the overall arrangement becomes less compact
Solution Approach 1:
The filter housing is merged with the existing housing structure, forming a unified component. The filter element is integrated into the housing interior, eliminating the need for separate filter mounting structures and reducing overall spatial occupation while maintaining effective filtering of the damping medium before it reaches the throttle valve.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter element is nested within the interior of the housing, utilizing the existing internal space. The filter housing contains the filter element in a nested arrangement where the filter is positioned within the housing cavity, allowing compact integration without increasing the external dimensions of the door operator.
2Reliability
If the filter is positioned close to the throttle valve, then contamination is prevented effectively, but the flow path becomes longer and the structure more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The filter element is positioned locally at the critical point where the damping medium flows from the pressure chamber into the channel leading to the throttle valve. This localized filtering placement ensures that contamination is prevented at the source without requiring the filter to be positioned extremely close to the throttle valve, thereby optimizing both protection effectiveness and flow path length.
3Ease of operation
If the piston is allowed to move freely within the housing, then the door operator achieves full range of motion, but the damping medium may bypass the filter
Solution Approach 1:
The filter housing and filter element serve as an intermediary component in the fluid path. Even when the piston moves freely within the housing, the damping medium must pass through the filter housing and filter element as an intermediate step before entering the channel to the throttle valve. This intermediary positioning ensures consistent filtering regardless of piston position while maintaining full piston mobility for door 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
This design effectively prevents contamination of the throttle valve, maintains consistent damping, and achieves a compact overall arrangement by integrating the filter within the housing, ensuring reliable operation and adjustable damping characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
at least one filter that protects the throttle valve from any contamination
Implementation Method 2
a channel arrangement within which the damping medium can flow between the first and the second pressure chamber as a function of the movement of the piston
Implementation Method 3
a throttle valve which is provided within the channel arrangement in order to dampen movement of the piston
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The door actuator (1) has a shutter shaft coupled to the door, where a piston (11) is operatively connected with the shutter shaft, and is movable within a housing (3). A filter (40a) and the housing forms a common fluid channel (42), by which a damping medium (4) is flowed in the direction of the throttle valve (31).