Guide Bearing Centering Chambers for Anti-Seizing Percussion Pistons

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Solution Overview

Problem

Percussion devices with high-mass striking pistons, especially when used at non-vertical positions, face intense friction and risk of seizing due to inadequate guidance, leading to blockages or permanent damage, and existing solutions fail to ensure proper centering and hydraulic flow effectively.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a centering device with centering chambers connected to a high-pressure fluid supply and evacuation grooves connected to a low-pressure circuit around the guide bearings, which maintains a hydraulic film and prevents direct contact between the striking piston and guide surfaces, ensuring proper alignment and movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If a high-mass impact piston is used to increase striking force, then the power and effectiveness of the percussion tool is improved, but the risk of the impact piston seizing on the guide surfaces increases due to intense friction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestriking forceVSAvoidrisk of seizing
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies hydraulic principles by introducing a hydraulic film between the impact piston and guide surfaces through controlled fluid pressure. The hydraulic circuit applies pressure differentials across the guide surfaces, creating a fluid film that separates the impact piston from the guide surfaces, thereby eliminating direct metal-to-metal contact and reducing friction for high-mass pistons

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Reliability

If hydraulic flow is applied between the impact piston and guide surfaces to reduce friction, then the risk of seizing is reduced, but proper centering of the striking piston relative to the guide bearings is not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverisk of seizingVSAvoidcentering of striking piston
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating different pressure zones at different locations of the guide surfaces. The hydraulic circuit applies pressure differentials specifically at the axial ends of each guide surface, creating localized high-pressure zones that generate hydraulic lift and centering forces. This localized pressure application ensures both separation from the guide surfaces and proper centering of the impact piston

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If the impact piston is allowed to contact the guide surfaces for guidance, then the guidance function is achieved, but intense friction occurs leading to seizing and potential damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguidance functionVSAvoidfriction and seizing
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a hydraulic film as an intermediary between the impact piston and guide surfaces. This fluid intermediary maintains the guidance function by keeping the impact piston properly positioned and centered relative to the guide bearings, while simultaneously eliminating direct contact and the associated friction and seizing risks

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 effectively prevents seizing of the striking piston by maintaining a hydraulic film and ensuring proper centering, even with high-mass pistons, reducing friction and preventing damage during operation.

Implementation Method 1

Hydraulic flow is achieved by applying a pressure differential to the axial ends of each guide surface, for example, by connecting one side of each guide surface to a high-pressure fluid supply circuit and the other side to a low-pressure circuit. Such an arrangement generates hydraulic flow in each guide bearing, which promotes the formation of a hydraulic film between the impact piston and each guide bearing.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic flow: Hydraulic Press

Implementation Method 2

at least one guide bearing has a centering device configured to center the impact piston in the piston cylinder, the centering device comprising: a plurality of centering chambers formed in the guide surface of at least one guide bearing and distributed around the impact piston, each centering chamber being fluidly connected to the high-pressure fluid supply circuit, and a plurality of drainage grooves formed in the guide surface of at least one guide bearing, each drainage groove being located near at least one of the centering chambers and being fluidly connected to the low-pressure circuit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP3525989B1Percussion apparatus provided with a guide bearing equipped with a centring device
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 MONTABERT SA
  • EP3525989B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3525989B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

This percussion apparatus (2) comprises a striking piston (5) mounted with the ability to move inside a piston cylinder (4) and designed to strike a tool (6); and a guide bearing (15) comprising a guide surface (16) configured to guide the striking piston (5) during the movements of the striking piston (5) in the piston cylinder (4). The guide bearing (15) comprises a centring device (17) configured to centre the striking piston (5) in the piston cylinder (4), the centring device (17) comprising centring chambers (18) formed in the guide surface (16) and distributed around the striking piston (5), each centring chamber (18) being fluidically connected to a high-pressure fluid feed circuit (12), and at least one discharge groove (22) formed in the guide surface (16) of the guide bearing (15) and situated near at least one of the centring chambers (18), the at least one discharge groove (22) being fluidically connected to a low-pressure circuit (13).