Internal Floating Piston Anti-Tipping Structure for Short Chambers
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Solution Overview
Problem
In telescopic assemblies with smaller chamber axial length, the displacement of the internal floating piston (IFP) affects the operational range and weight due to reduced available volume, leading to issues like firmer settings or premature hard stops.
Innovation Solution
The IFP design features an extended base with anti-tipping elements such as circumferential features and tangs to prevent rotation, reducing displacement volume and maintaining fluid separation while allowing increased chamber volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the IFP is designed with a compact form to reduce displacement volume, then chamber volume efficiency improves, but the IFP becomes prone to rotation and tipping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the IFP design from a simple cylindrical form into the axial dimension by adding an extended base with anti-tipping elements. This dimensional extension provides rotational stability without significantly increasing the radial displacement volume, as the anti-tipping elements extend axially rather than radially.
Solution Approach 2:
The extended base with anti-tipping elements acts as an intermediary structure between the IFP body and the chamber floor. This intermediary component provides the necessary stability and prevents tipping while maintaining the compact IFP body design for minimal displacement volume.
2Length of moving object
If the chamber axial length is reduced to decrease overall assembly size, then weight and compactness improve, but the operational range decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the IFP by extending the base axially with anti-tipping elements. This parameter change allows the IFP to maintain stability in a shorter chamber configuration, effectively decoupling the chamber length from the operational range limitations.
Solution Approach 2:
By extending the IFP base in the axial dimension rather than increasing the radial dimensions, the design achieves rotational stability without proportionally increasing the displacement volume, allowing for compact chamber design while maintaining operational range.
3Weight of stationary object
If the IFP displacement volume is minimized to increase chamber volume, then weight reduction improves, but the IFP loses stability and tips during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-tipping elements extend axially from the IFP base, providing stability in the axial dimension without significantly increasing the radial displacement volume. This allows weight reduction through minimized displacement while maintaining stability through the extended axial features.
Solution Approach 2:
The IFP design applies local quality by adding anti-tipping elements only at the base region where stability is needed, rather than uniformly increasing the IFP volume throughout. This localized addition provides stability while minimizing overall displacement volume and weight.
Data Source
AI summary
An IFP is disclosed. The IFP includes a sealing channel formed axially about an outer diameter (OD), the sealing channel including at least two walls where the at least two walls of the sealing channel having a smaller OD than an inner diameter (ID) of a chamber and a channel is formed between the at least two walls. The IFP also includes an anti-tipping feature fixedly coupled with at least a portion of one wall of the sealing channel, the anti-tipping feature increasing a length of the IFP.