Pressure-Driven Fluid Pod Mixing for Orientation-Stable Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid delivery systems are inefficient in utilizing pressurized fluid sources, particularly compressor bleed air, and lack flexibility in fluid application under varying system conditions such as acceleration and orientation changes.
Innovation Solution
A pressure driven fluid delivery system that combines pressurized fluid with reservoir fluid to form a mixture, using components like pistons, membranes, and bypass tubes to create a mixture for application, with features like flow regulators and check valves to control fluid flow and pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If pressurized fluid is used to drive fluid delivery, then fluid delivery speed and pressure are improved, but sensitivity to system acceleration and orientation changes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a piston driven by pressurized fluid (pneumatic/hydraulic principle) to deliver reservoir fluid. The piston mechanism converts fluid pressure into mechanical motion, enabling controlled fluid delivery that is insensitive to system acceleration and orientation changes while maintaining high delivery speed and pressure.
2Loss of energy
If compressor bleed air is used as pressurized fluid source, then energy efficiency is improved, but control precision and flow regulation become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses compressor bleed air (a byproduct of compression) as the pressurized fluid source, converting waste energy into useful work for driving the piston. This self-service approach improves energy efficiency by utilizing otherwise wasted compressor output to power the fluid delivery mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates flow regulators and restrictors that can adjust flow parameters (pressure, flow rate) of the bleed air to the piston. By changing physical parameters of the pressurized fluid, the system achieves precise control over piston motion and reservoir fluid delivery despite using variable bleed air input.
3Device complexity
If simple fluid delivery mechanism is used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to varying system conditions decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The piston-based pressure-driven mechanism serves multiple functions: it delivers reservoir fluid, mixes it with bypassed pressurized fluid, controls flow rates, and adapts to varying system conditions. This single multi-functional component replaces what would otherwise require multiple separate mechanisms, maintaining simplicity while achieving versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a mixture chamber as an intermediary component where reservoir fluid and bypassed pressurized fluid combine. This intermediary mixing stage enables flexible fluid application by creating adjustable mixtures that can adapt to different system conditions while keeping the overall mechanism relatively simple.
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
Ensures efficient and flexible fluid delivery, insensitive to system acceleration and orientation changes, utilizing compressor bleed air effectively and creating a mixture for optimal application on mechanical components.
Implementation Method 1
pressure exerted on the piston by the pressurized fluid causes the piston to move into a reservoir, applying pressure to a reservoir fluid disposed therein
Implementation Method 2
a portion of the pressurized fluid bypass tube is narrowed to create a Venturi effect at or near an outlet of the fluid reservoir to create a pulling effect on the piston
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid delivery system, comprising at least one source of pressurized fluid; and, a pod, comprising, an inlet in fluid communication with the source, a piston in fluid communication with the inlet, wherein pressure exerted on the piston by the pressurized fluid causes the piston to move into at least one reservoir, applying pressure to at least one reservoir fluid disposed therein, an outlet in fluid communication with the at least one reservoir for output of at least the at least one reservoir fluid being pressured out of the at least one reservoir by the piston, a pressurized fluid bypass tube in fluid communication with the inlet at one end and in fluid communication with the outlet at a second end, and, wherein the output at least one reservoir fluid and the bypassed pressurized fluid are combined to form a mixture to be applied at an area of application.