Fuel Meter Piston Alignment via Segmented Shoulders
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional two-piston volumetric meters for liquid fuel dispensing face challenges in achieving precise measurement due to misalignment of pistons, leading to fuel leaks, overpressure, and premature wear, which affect the accuracy and lifespan of the meter.
Innovation Solution
The internal walls of the measuring chambers are equipped with diametrically opposed shoulders that act as limit stops for the pistons, allowing for automatic realignment and reducing misalignment, along with adjustable shoulders to minimize wear and enhance precision, and electronic calibration for precise volume adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional two-piston meters are used with simple bottom stops, then the structure is simple, but piston misalignment occurs leading to fuel leaks and measurement inaccuracies
Solution Approach 1:
The limit stop is segmented into multiple diametrically opposed shoulders instead of a single central stop. Each shoulder provides a contact point for the piston, distributing the stopping force and ensuring proper alignment. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining structural simplicity while eliminating piston misalignment and fuel leaks.
Solution Approach 2:
The shoulders act as intermediary elements between the piston and the chamber bottom. Rather than the piston directly contacting a single point, the shoulders mediate the stopping action, providing a stable, multi-point contact that ensures accurate piston positioning and prevents misalignment during operation.
2Ease of manufacture
If a single central stop is used at the bottom of the rear compartment, then manufacturing is simple, but overpressure occurs pushing the piston back and falsifying measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The single central stop is replaced with multiple diametrically opposed shoulders. This segmentation distributes the stopping force across multiple contact points, preventing the concentration of pressure that causes overpressure conditions. The piston can rest evenly on the shoulders without being pushed back, eliminating measurement falsification while remaining easy to manufacture.
3Device complexity
If pistons are allowed to abut against the bottom of the rear compartment, then the mechanism is simple, but noise pollution and vibrations occur
Solution Approach 1:
The single point contact at the chamber bottom is replaced with multiple diametrically opposed shoulders. This distributes the impact force during piston reversal, significantly reducing vibrations and noise pollution. The segmented stop structure absorbs and disperses the mechanical energy more effectively, eliminating harmful vibrations while maintaining mechanism simplicity.
4Ease of manufacture
If machining tolerances are not compensated for, then manufacturing is easier, but piston misalignment leads to seal wear and permanent fuel leaks
Solution Approach 1:
The shoulders are pre-positioned at specific locations in the rear compartment to compensate for expected machining tolerances. This preliminary alignment feature ensures that even with normal manufacturing variations, the pistons will automatically align correctly when they contact the shoulders, preventing seal wear and fuel leaks while maintaining ease of manufacture.
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 configuration ensures accurate fuel measurement, reduces leaks, and extends the lifespan of the meter by ensuring uniform seal wear and precise alignment of pistons, enhancing the overall precision and reliability of the volumetric meter.
Implementation Method 1
two pistons of essentially horizontal axis respectively movable back and forth, under the action of the pressure exerted by the fuel transferred between the inlet orifice and the outlet orifice
Implementation Method 2
The fuel thus introduced exerts pressure on the piston mounted in this chamber so as to move it in the direction of the other compartment
Data Source
AI summary
The meter has an intake valve (4) rotationally fixed on a vertical measurement shaft and formed with diametrically opposed elongated openings (4a, 4b) to set front and rear compartments (A-D) of parallel cylindrical measurement chambers (6a, 6b) in communication with an inlet opening and an outlet opening. An internal wall of one of the rear compartments (C, D) is equipped with crumpled form flanges that define a rear limit stop for associated pistons (9a, 9b). The flanges have a frontal surface for allowing realignment of the pistons.