Elastic Centering Piece for Non-Contact Mechanical Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for centering mechanical parts, such as pistons in compressors, face challenges including friction, wear, and contamination issues due to lubrication, and struggle with achieving precise alignment, especially in applications requiring long operating times without maintenance and in environments where lubricants can solidify or vaporize, leading to performance degradation.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing targeted elastic deformation to center mechanical parts, allowing for precise alignment and fixing without lubrication, using thermal expansion or fluid introduction to achieve reversible or partially reversible deformation, ensuring accurate positioning and minimizing contact between parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If continuous lubrication is used to reduce friction and prevent wear, then the piston can operate without contact, but the gas is contaminated and loses its properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the lubricant from the system after achieving the necessary centering effect. The lubricant is introduced temporarily to enable precise static centering of the piston relative to the liner, then completely removed before operation to prevent gas contamination while maintaining the centered position achieved during the centering phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs centering action in advance before operation. The piston is centered relative to the liner using lubricant during a preliminary centering phase, then the lubricant is removed and the piston is fixed in its centered position. This preliminary centering action eliminates the need for continuous lubrication during operation, preventing gas contamination while maintaining reliability.
2Manufacturing precision
If reduced clearances are used to improve sealing and efficiency, then the play between piston and sleeve is minimized, but the piston decentering risk increases and contact with liner occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary centering of the piston relative to the liner using lubricant before operation. The lubricant enables precise adjustment and fixation of the piston in its centered position. After centering is achieved and the piston is fixed, the lubricant is removed. This preliminary centering action ensures that even with reduced clearances, the piston remains centered during operation, preventing decentering and contact with the liner.
3Manufacturing precision
If static centering with foil is used to achieve initial centering, then the piston can be centered in the sleeve, but the holding solution may fail during operation and the piston could decenter
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical holding solution (foil, glue, or screws) with a more reliable fixation method. The piston is centered using lubricant and then fixed in its centered position through a fixation mechanism that maintains the centered position reliably during operation. This substitution ensures that the centering achieved during the preliminary phase is maintained throughout operation, preventing decentering and contact with the liner.
4Reliability
If mechanical tightening with screws is used to fix the piston, then the piston can be secured in position, but radial forces are applied that can pinch the foil and generate residues causing off-centering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the foil from the system after achieving the necessary centering effect. The piston is centered using lubricant, then fixed in its centered position. The foil is completely removed before operation to prevent any residues that could cause off-centering, while the fixation mechanism maintains the centered position achieved during the centering phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical tightening system (screws applying radial forces) with a fixation method that secures the piston in its centered position without applying radial forces that could deform the foil or cause off-centering. This substitution maintains both reliable fixation and centering 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
This method achieves almost perfect static and dynamic centering with enhanced accuracy and reduced wear, maintaining system performance and preventing contamination, while allowing for mechanical clamping and avoiding the limitations of traditional static centering methods.
Implementation Method 1
said centering part being configured to deform elastically at least in part by introducing fluid into the centering piece
Implementation Method 2
using thermal expansion or fluid introduction to achieve reversible or partially reversible deformation
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates mainly to a method for centering a first mechanical part (2) and a second mechanical part (3) relative to each other, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: - Positioning the first mechanical part and the second mechanical part relative to each other, the first mechanical part, - Providing at least one centering piece - Deforming the centering piece at least partially reversibly, - Centering the first mechanical part and the second mechanical part relative to each other by said deformation, the mechanical parts not being in contact with each other after centering.