Gas Cylinder Lubrication Atomization to Prevent Seal Dry Cycling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas cylinder assemblies with lower mounted nitrogen manifolds face issues with oil collection and lubrication, leading to potential seal failure and performance degradation due to oil accumulation at the lowest point, which is exacerbated in upper mounting setups where oil does not collect, causing dry cycling and early failure of high-pressure seals.
Innovation Solution
An improved lubrication system using a mixture of atomized non-solid lubricant and gas is introduced, where the non-solid lubricant is atomized within the fluid reservoir and mixed with gas before entering the cylinder sleeves, providing a lubrication coating for the inner surfaces and seals, eliminating the need for separate mechanical pumps and additional gas passageways, and allowing for compact manifold designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lower mounted nitrogen manifold setup is used, then oil collects at the lowest point and lubricates the cylinder sleeve, but this causes oil accumulation that can lead to seal failure and performance degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the gravity-dependent oil collection mechanism with a pressurized atomized lubricant delivery system. Instead of relying on oil to naturally collect at the lowest point through gravity, the system uses a pump to deliver atomized lubricant mixed with pressurized nitrogen gas directly to the cylinder sleeve and seal surfaces, eliminating uncontrolled oil accumulation while ensuring reliable lubrication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and delivery parameters of the lubricant by atomizing it and mixing it with pressurized gas. This transforms the lubricant from a liquid that accumulates under gravity into a fine spray that can be precisely delivered to target surfaces, preventing harmful accumulation while maintaining effective lubrication.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If upper mounting setup is used, then oil does not collect and causes dry cycling, but this leads to early failure of high-pressure seals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the passive gravity-dependent oil distribution system with an active pressurized atomized lubricant delivery system. This ensures that lubrication is delivered to the seals regardless of the manifold's mounting orientation, preventing dry cycling and early seal failure in upper mounting configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces atomized lubricant mixed with pressurized nitrogen gas as an intermediary delivery mechanism. This intermediary system overcomes the limitation of gravity-dependent oil flow, enabling reliable lubrication delivery to seals in any mounting position without relying on oil collection at low points.
3Reliability
If separate mechanical pumps and additional gas passageways are added for lubrication, then reliable lubrication is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the lubrication delivery function into the existing pressurized nitrogen manifold system. The same pressurized nitrogen gas used for cushioning operations also serves as the carrier gas for delivering atomized lubricant, eliminating the need for separate mechanical pumps and additional gas passageways while achieving reliable lubrication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the lubrication delivery system with the existing pressurized nitrogen manifold system. By combining the lubricant delivery function with the gas distribution infrastructure already present in the cushioning system, the patent achieves reliable lubrication without adding separate mechanical pumps or additional gas passageways.
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 system effectively lubricates the components of the gas cylinder assemblies, extending their lifespan and preventing performance degradation by ensuring continuous lubrication without oil accumulation, even in upper mounting setups, and reduces the risk of clogging and mechanical complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a portion or all of the non-solid lubricant is atomized when gas flows into and/or out of the fluid reservoir
Implementation Method 2
The fluid flow creates turbulence and moves the oil with the nitrogen to lubricate the cylinder sleeve
Implementation Method 3
The atomized non-solid lubricant that flows into the cylinder sleeve at least partially or fully lubricates an inner surface of an interior chamber of the cylinder sleeve
Data Source
AI summary
A manifold system that includes a cylinder assembly formed at least partially or fully of a manifold housing; a fluid reservoir; a gas cylinder assembly that is fluidly connected to the fluid reservoir by a fluid supply conduit fluidly; and wherein atomized non-solid lubricant that flows into a cylinder sleeve of the gas cylinder assembly is used to at least partially or fully lubricate an inner surface of an interior chamber of the cylinder sleeve during the operation of the gas cylinder assembly.