Eccentric Groove Compressor for Reduced Weight and Contamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gas compressors, such as wobble piston and rotary vane pumps, face inefficiencies in air/gas volume movement due to limited piston travel, weight, noise, vibration, and contamination issues, with rotary vane pumps being heavy and prone to carbon dust problems, and lacking high-pressure capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A compressor design featuring a rotating shaft with a grooved end plate and piston rod, where the piston rod slides back and forth relative to the rotating shaft, creating a pressure differential through alternately positioned pistons within piston chambers, utilizing a bearing that traverses an off-center groove to adjust piston position, allowing for efficient gas movement with reduced weight and contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If wobble piston pump design is used, then pressure adjustment capability is improved, but total volume of air/gas movement per revolution is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The compressor divides the compression function into multiple independent piston chambers (first piston chamber and second piston chamber) that operate simultaneously. Each chamber has its own piston rod and bearing assembly, allowing parallel compression operations that increase total volume movement while maintaining pressure control capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple piston rods and bearing assemblies into a single integrated compressor body sharing a common drive shaft. This merging allows simultaneous operation of multiple compression chambers, increasing productivity while consolidating structural components to manage weight and complexity.
2Productivity
If multiple compressor heads are added to increase volume, then total volume of air/gas movement is improved, but space and weight are increased
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple piston rods and bearing assemblies are merged into a single integrated compressor body that shares common structural elements including the compressor body, drive shaft, and housing. This consolidation achieves multiple compression chambers in one unit, increasing volume capacity without proportionally increasing weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The common drive shaft and compressor body structure serve multiple functions: they support and drive multiple piston rods simultaneously, provide structural housing for all chambers, and maintain alignment for all bearing assemblies. This multi-functionality reduces overall component count and weight.
3Productivity
If rotary vane pump design is used, then volume of air per revolution is improved, but device weight and carbon dust contamination are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses Teflon seals and piston rods that can be easily replaced rather than using carbon vanes that generate dust. The Teflon materials are selected for their non-contaminating properties and reliability, eliminating carbon dust generation while maintaining effective sealing and compression functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The compressor employs composite material selection: Teflon for seals and piston rods to eliminate carbon dust, combined with metal bearing assemblies for structural support. This material combination achieves both contamination-free operation and mechanical durability.
4Stress or pressure
If wobble piston pump is used, then pressure adjustment is improved, but noise and vibration are increased
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple piston chambers operate in parallel with synchronized reciprocating motions, merging their compression actions into a unified output. This synchronization balances the reciprocating forces, reducing net vibration and noise while maintaining effective pressure control.
Solution Approach 2:
The multiple piston chambers are timed to operate in sequence, providing continuous compression action that smooths out pulsations. This continuous action reduces vibration and noise compared to single-chamber designs while maintaining pressure control.
5Stress or pressure
If wobble piston pump design is used, then pressure control is improved, but piston travel distance and displacement size are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The compression function is segmented into multiple independent piston chambers, each capable of full-stroke reciprocating motion. This segmentation allows each piston to achieve maximum travel distance and displacement while the collective system maintains precise pressure control through coordinated operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The piston rods are designed with dynamic reciprocating motion through the bearing assemblies, allowing full travel distance within each chamber. The dynamic design enables maximum displacement while maintaining pressure control through the coordinated action of multiple chambers.
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 enhances gas compression efficiency, reduces weight and noise, and minimizes contamination, providing a smoother flow with improved pressure differential capabilities compared to traditional compressors.
Implementation Method 1
The grooved end plate defines a substantially circular groove positioned off center with respect to the shaft, and a piston rod extends through the compressor substantially perpendicular to the rotating shaft. The piston rod slides back and forth relative to the rotating shaft such that the respective pistons are alternately closer to and farther from the rotating shaft.
Data Source
AI summary
A compressor moves a fluid from an inlet to an outlet and provides a pressure differential there between due to respective pistons moving in and out of a plurality of piston chambers via a piston rod. A rotating shaft extends through a grooved end plate, and the rotating shaft is connected to either the grooved end plate or the piston rod. The grooved end plate defines an off center or eccentric groove. A bearing extends from the piston rod and fits within the groove such that when the rotational motion of the shaft rotates either the piston rod or the grooved end plate, the piston rod slides back and forth relative to the rotating shaft. Each position of the bearing within the groove determines a corresponding position of the piston rod relative to the rotating shaft. Each pair of pistons may extend from a single, continuous piston rod.