Fluid Driven Reciprocating Linear Motor Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing linear motors for reciprocating motion in tools like pumps face issues with large drive shafts causing buckling forces, increased mass and inertia, complex latch-releases, potential stalls, seal difficulties in harsh environments, and excessive wear due to multiple moving parts and complex power requirements.
Innovation Solution
A motor design utilizing a pressurized fluid flow to provide one-directional unswitched reciprocating motion with few moving parts, featuring a reversing sleeve and spool mechanism that aligns fluid communication ports to manage power and exhaust strokes efficiently, and sealing rings to isolate the motor's environment, reducing parts count and complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a driven shaft is used to provide reciprocating linear motion, then the motor can deliver power to the tool, but the shaft operates under compression requiring large amounts of materials to defeat buckling forces
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the compression-resistant function from the driven shaft by eliminating the shaft entirely. Instead of using a shaft that must withstand compression forces, the patent uses a fluid-driven piston system where the fluid itself transmits the power, removing the need for a heavy compression-resistant shaft structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies hydraulic principles by using pressurized fluid to directly drive the piston for reciprocating motion. The fluid pressure replaces the mechanical shaft transmission, allowing power delivery without requiring a heavy shaft designed to resist buckling forces.
2Force
If a larger drive shaft is used to deliver power, then the motor can handle higher loads, but the greater mass results in greater inertia and larger collision forces
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses hydraulic fluid pressure to transmit force to the piston, allowing high load handling capacity without increasing the mass of moving mechanical parts. The fluid itself carries the force, eliminating the need for a heavy drive shaft that would increase inertia and collision forces.
3Reliability
If complex latch-releases are used to control reciprocating motion, then the motor can maintain position, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The piston system is self-acting through fluid pressure control. The pressurized fluid automatically drives the piston forward, and the return stroke is achieved through fluid pressure reversal or gravity, eliminating the need for complex latch-release mechanisms to maintain position or control reciprocating motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical latch-release system with a fluid pressure control system. Position control and reciprocating motion are achieved through hydraulic pressure management rather than mechanical latches, releases, and locking mechanisms, significantly reducing device complexity.
4Ease of operation
If multiple moving parts are used in the motor, then the motor can provide controlled reciprocating motion, but the susceptibility to wear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses fluid pressure to control reciprocating motion, replacing multiple mechanical moving parts with a fluid-driven piston system. The fluid itself performs the work of moving the piston, eliminating or minimizing mechanical contacts that would otherwise be subject to wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and removes unnecessary mechanical moving parts from the system. By using direct fluid-driven piston actuation, the design eliminates intermediate transmission components, linkages, and joints that would increase wear susceptibility, leaving only the essential piston and cylinder components.
5Reliability
If seals are used to isolate working parts from harsh environments, then the motor can protect internal components, but seal difficulties arise in harsh environments
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses the pressurized fluid itself to provide the sealing function. The fluid pressure creates a natural barrier that prevents contamination ingress and protects internal components, eliminating or reducing the need for additional mechanical seals and gaskets that would be vulnerable to harsh environments.
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
The solution achieves low-mass, low-inertia operation with effective seals, preventing stalls and maintaining performance in harsh conditions, while simplifying maintenance and reducing wear, by converting one-directional fluid flow into mechanical reciprocating action with a compact, efficient motor design.
Implementation Method 1
a first piston acting as an attaching platform to a mechanism to be powered by the motor defining a first compression chamber and a second piston acting as an attaching platform to the mechanism to be powered by the motor defining a second compression chamber
Implementation Method 2
a valve comprising a reversing spool inside a reversing sleeve operating to redirect the pressurized fluid flow to alternate between driving the first and second pistons
Data Source
AI summary
A reciprocating linear motor powered by one directional fluid flow is provided, having small external diameter, optimized for length, with few moving parts and effective seals, low mass and thus low inertia in direction changes. The motor provides reciprocating linear powered motion for use by attached equipment such as a pump, chisel, hammer, valve, or other machine requiring such power.