Hydraulic Actuator with Roller Screw for Silent Lifting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing actuators used in theatrical, musical, and event management, as well as sporting events, face challenges with high friction, power demand, cooling requirements, noise, and safety issues, particularly in restricted spaces like old city centers, where they need to handle heavy loads with millimeter accuracy and remain silent and safe during power interruptions.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic actuator with a non-self-locking roller or ball screw mechanism, a pressure accumulator for controlled hydraulic pressure, and an electric or hydraulic motor for driving the screw and piston, which reduces friction, power consumption, and heat generation, allowing for compact installation and silent operation, while ensuring safety during power loss with a spring-brake mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional actuators with self-locking mechanisms are used to handle heavy loads, then safety is improved, but friction and power demand increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional self-locking mechanical screw mechanism with a hydraulic system that uses fluid pressure to hold and move the load. The hydraulic cylinder with piston and fluid pressure substitution eliminates the need for mechanical self-locking, significantly reducing friction and power demand while maintaining safety through hydraulic pressure control and emergency locking mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a hydraulic system where a hydraulic cylinder with piston and fluid pressure is used to lift and position heavy loads. The hydraulic fluid transmits force efficiently with minimal friction, and the system includes pressure relief valves and emergency locking mechanisms to ensure safety, thereby resolving the contradiction between safety and power consumption.
2Power
If traditional actuators with high power demand are used, then lifting capability is improved, but cooling requirements and noise increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic system uses incompressible fluid to transmit power efficiently, reducing energy losses and heat generation. The hydraulic motor drives the screw mechanism with high efficiency, minimizing the need for large cooling fans and reducing noise, while maintaining high lifting capability through hydraulic pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters by using hydraulic pressure instead of direct mechanical power transmission. This allows for smoother, more controlled movement with reduced friction and heat generation, enabling high lifting capability with lower cooling requirements and noise levels.
3Adaptability or versatility
If actuators are installed in restricted spaces like old city centers, then adaptability is improved, but cooling and power access become problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic system uses flexible hoses instead of rigid mechanical linkages, allowing the actuator to be installed in restricted spaces with easier access requirements. The hydraulic fluid can be routed through flexible conduits, and the system requires less ambient space for cooling, making it suitable for installation in old city centers and culturally important buildings.
4Adaptability or versatility
If actuators operate in restricted spaces with poor access, then installation flexibility is improved, but silent operation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic system operates silently compared to pneumatic systems that require large fans for cooling. The hydraulic motor and pump operate with minimal noise, and the incompressible fluid provides smooth, quiet movement. This allows the actuator to operate silently in restricted spaces while maintaining installation flexibility.
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 actuator achieves low friction and power requirements, enabling silent and precise operation in limited spaces with enhanced safety features, such as maintaining load position during power loss, and high controllability and movement dynamics due to the backlash-free screw mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure accumulator arranged to deliver a controllable hydraulic pressure to said hydraulic cylinder to affect the piston inside said cylinder body
Implementation Method 2
a non-self-locking construction which comprises a roller screw or a ball screw
Implementation Method 3
a non-self-locking construction which comprises a roller screw or a ball screw
Implementation Method 4
a spring-brake mechanism
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
An actuator ( 1) for the lifting of loads, especially within the theatre and event business or within sporting events, comprising a hydraulic cylinder (2) with a cylinder body (3), a slidable piston inside the cylinder body, as well as a pressure accumulator (5) arranged to deliver a controllable hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic cylinder (2) to influence the piston inside the cylinder body (3). The actuator comprises a screw mechanism with a screw and a nut arranged to interact with the piston and thereby control the position of the piston inside the cylinder body (3). The screw mechanism has a static non-self-locking construction that comprises a roller or ball screw. The actuator (1) comprises an electric motor (8) or a hydraulic motor both for driving the screw and the piston interacting with the screw when lifting the load and for positioning the screw and the piston interacting with the screw in case of a loss of hydraulic pressure from the pressure accumulator (5) during ongoing lifting of the load.