Hydraulic Impulse Damper for Pulsating Flow Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Testing injectors for combustion engines, especially diesel engines, requires precise measurement of pulsating volume flows, which is complex and costly due to the need for fast and high-maintenance flow metering devices.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic impulse damper with an elastic membrane and spring elements that smooths out pressure fluctuations, allowing for flexible buffering of pulsating volume flows, and a volume flow throttle that damps vibrations and compensates for pressure differences, enabling the use of simpler and less expensive flow meters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If fast flow metering devices are used to measure pulsating volume flows accurately, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a hydraulic impulse damper as an intermediary device between the pulsating flow source and the flow meter. The damper contains a membrane that separates the pulsating volume flow from the measurement point, creating a buffer volume that smooths out pressure fluctuations. This mediator allows a simple flow meter to measure volume flow accurately by converting pulsating flow into nearly continuous flow before measurement.
2Productivity
If a large gas volume is used for buffering pulsating volume flows, then buffering capacity is improved, but device volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the buffering system by using spring elements to apply force on the membrane, creating a mechanically active buffer system. The spring force provides a counteracting pressure that enhances the buffering effect without requiring a large gas volume. The buffering capacity is achieved through the combined effect of the spring force and the elastic membrane rather than relying solely on large volume compression.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a hydraulic principle where the spring-loaded membrane creates pressure fluctuations in the liquid medium to counteract incoming pulsations. The hydraulic volume with the membrane and spring system creates a pressure buffer that smooths flow pulsations without requiring large gas volumes, utilizing the incompressibility of liquid to transfer and smooth pressure variations efficiently.
3Productivity
If spring elements are added to load the membrane, then buffering efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible membrane as the core buffering element, which is loaded by spring elements. The membrane's elasticity allows it to deform in response to pressure fluctuations while the springs provide a restoring force. This combination creates an efficient buffer with relatively simple structure, as the membrane itself handles the complex deformation and pressure equalization without requiring additional complex mechanisms.
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 allows for precise measurement of almost continuous volume flows, reducing the complexity and cost of flow meters while increasing accuracy, and also facilitates temperature control of the test oil.
Implementation Method 1
spring elements with which a membrane that abuts against the buffer volume is loaded. The smoothing effect of an elastic membrane is significantly improved by the spring elements
Implementation Method 2
a membrane that abuts against the buffer volume is loaded. The smoothing effect of an elastic membrane is significantly improved by the spring elements
Implementation Method 3
The vibrations of the membrane and the spring elements can be damped by means of a throttle that is connected to the pressure compensation volume
Implementation Method 4
The throttle can also be connected to an oil reservoir in order to generate a counter-pressure to the working pressure that prevails in the buffer volume
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The damper has a flexible hydraulic buffer volume (210) i.e. cylinder, and a flow rate throttle (290), which stands in fluid connection with the buffer volume. A boundary surface surrounds the buffer volume. The boundary surface comprises a spring-loaded membrane inner surface (216), which is connected with a rigid base plate in a sealed manner via an elastic section. A pressure balance volume (220) stands in connection with a surrounding area via a throttle (310), and a temperature stabilized verification oil tank comprises a cooling volume.