Hydraulic Drive for Diaphragm Pressure Wave Generation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drive systems for diaphragm pressure wave generators in cryogenic refrigerators are costly, and there is a need for a more efficient and cost-effective solution to generate pressure waves while maintaining a clean gas environment.
Innovation Solution
A drive system comprising a reciprocally moveable master piston within a double-acting balanced master cylinder, with slave pistons having a larger cross-sectional area, that converts low-force, long-stroke motion into high-force, short-stroke motion to reciprocate the diaphragms, utilizing hydraulic fluid communication between the master and slave cylinders to generate pressure waves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If clearance gap pistons driven by linear motors are used to generate pressure waves, then pressure wave generation is achieved, but the system becomes costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a hydraulic amplifier system where a master piston driven by a low-cost actuator controls hydraulic fluid flow to drive slave pistons with larger cross-sectional areas. This hydraulic mechanism enables the system to generate the necessary high forces for pressure wave generation using inexpensive components, resolving the contradiction between cost and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters by using a master piston with small cross-sectional area and long stroke to control slave pistons with large cross-sectional area and short stroke. This parameter transformation allows a low-cost, long-stroke actuator to generate the required high forces through hydraulic amplification, addressing the cost-reliability contradiction.
2Force
If slave pistons with larger cross-sectional area are used to amplify force, then high force is achieved, but the stroke length decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic amplifier system exploits the incompressibility of hydraulic fluid to transmit force and motion from the master piston to the slave pistons. The hydraulic fluid allows the system to achieve force amplification through area ratio while the master piston's long stroke is efficiently converted to the required short stroke of slave pistons, resolving the force-stroke length contradiction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a double-acting balanced master cylinder configuration where hydraulic fluid pressure balances forces on both sides of the master piston. This balancing mechanism allows the master piston to efficiently convert its long stroke motion into the short, high-force strokes of the slave pistons, addressing the force-stroke trade-off.
3Ease of manufacture
If a long-stroke actuator is used to drive the master piston, then the actuator cost is reduced, but the force output is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic amplifier system uses hydraulic fluid pressure multiplication to transform the low force, long stroke output of an inexpensive actuator into high force, short stroke motion at the slave pistons. The hydraulic mechanism provides force amplification proportional to the area ratio between slave and master pistons, resolving the cost-force contradiction.
Solution Approach 2:
The master piston and hydraulic fluid act as intermediaries between the low-cost actuator and the high-force requirement of the pressure wave generation system. The master piston converts actuator motion into hydraulic pressure, which then drives the slave pistons with amplified force, enabling the use of inexpensive actuators while meeting high force requirements.
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 solution enables efficient and cost-effective generation of pressure waves, suitable for cryogenic refrigerator systems, by leveraging hydraulic amplification to achieve the necessary force and stroke requirements with a low-cost, long-stroke actuator, thereby reducing operational costs and maintaining a clean gas environment.
Implementation Method 1
the slave pistons having a larger cross-sectional area than the master piston such that reciprocating motion of the master piston at a low force and long stroke causes reciprocating motion of the slave pistons at a higher force and shorter stroke
Data Source
AI summary
A drive system for driving a diaphragm pressure wave generator comprising opposed first and second diaphragms (11,13) that are each coupled at or toward opposite ends of a reciprocally moveable drive piston (19). The drive system comprises an operable actuator (27) that generates a reciprocating motion output having a low force and long stroke. The drive system also comprises a hydraulic amplifier that is operatively coupled between the actuator and the drive piston, the hydraulic amplifier being arranged to convert the reciprocating motion output from the actuator into an amplified output having a higher force and shorter stroke, and apply the amplified output to the drive piston (19) to cause the drive piston and opposed diaphragms (11,13) to reciprocate and generate waves.