Gas Driven Pump With Common Wall Cylinders and Shared Shaft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing compressed gas operated pumps for pumping soda syrup to a soda dispenser are expensive to manufacture due to the over molding of flexible barriers over pistons and the housing design with two separate cylinders and a middle chamber.
Innovation Solution
A gas driven pump design featuring first and second cylinders with a common wall, where pistons are mounted on a shared shaft, and flexible seals are hermetically secured to the cylinder surfaces, eliminating the need for over molding and reducing costs by using a manifold switching mechanism to reverse gas communication between chambers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If flexible barriers are over molded over pistons, then hermetic sealing is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hermetic sealing function is segmented from the piston structure. Instead of integrating flexible barriers into the piston through over-molding, the patent uses separate flexible diaphragms that are independently installed to seal between the piston and cylinder wall, eliminating the complex over-molding process while maintaining sealing reliability
Solution Approach 2:
Flexible diaphragms serve as intermediary sealing elements between the piston and cylinder wall. These diaphragms mediate the sealing function without requiring direct integration with the piston, allowing for simpler manufacturing of the piston itself while achieving the required hermetic seal through the intermediate diaphragm layer
2Adaptability or versatility
If two separate cylinders with middle chamber are used, then gas communication can be controlled, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the gas communication control function into a single integrated housing structure rather than using two separate cylinders with a middle chamber. The housing incorporates integrated gas passages and switching mechanisms that allow gas communication control within one unified structure, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining the adaptability to control gas flow between chambers
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structure is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as the structural enclosure and as the gas communication control system. Integrated gas passages and switching mechanisms within the housing allow it to perform both structural and gas flow control functions, eliminating the need for separate dedicated gas communication components
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 design reduces manufacturing costs and enhances reliability by eliminating the need for over molding and simplifying the assembly of flexible seals, while maintaining a robust and efficient pumping mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
a first flexible seal hermetically sealed to an interior surface of the first cylinder and the first piston to define a first liquid chamber and a first gas chamber
Implementation Method 2
Compressed gas is introduced into the gas system to drive the pistons
Implementation Method 3
a pressurized gas operated pump
Implementation Method 4
Diaphragm valves are arranged so that as liquid enters one of the liquid chambers, liquid exits out of the other liquid chamber
Implementation Method 5
A manifold switching mechanism switches gas communication so that as gas enters into one of the gas chambers, gas exits out of the other gas chamber
Implementation Method 6
When the liquid source is empty, a vacuum is created which actuates an automatic shut off valve
Data Source
AI summary
A pump operated with compressed gas is disclosed herein. The pump has two separate cylinders which share a common wall. Pistons are attached to a common shaft that runs through the common wall. The pistons are disposed within each of the cylinders. The pistons divide the cylinders into gas and liquid chambers. The liquid chambers of the cylinder form a liquid system and are in fluid communication with the liquid inlet and outlet. The gas chambers of the cylinders form a gas system and are in communication with gas inlet and outlet. A manifold switching mechanism controls routing of compressed gas to either one of the gas chambers to operate the gas operated pump by way of a spool valve or a shuttle valve mechanism. The pump may also have an automatic shutoff valve which shuts off operation of the pump when liquid from a liquid source has been depleted.