Hydropneumatic Booster Valve Vent Cross-Section Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hydropneumatic devices for pressure transmission face challenges in achieving short cycle times while maintaining high process reliability, with existing solutions only partially resolving this issue and often resulting in high wear, variable response behavior, and undesirable noise during venting processes.

Innovation Solution

A hydropneumatic device with a pneumatic valve designed such that the vent cross section is at least 30% of the overflow cross section, integrated into the pneumatic unit, allowing for rapid venting and secondary ventilation, which reduces the need for additional valves and minimizes noise, thereby achieving short cycle times without additional quick venting devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional pneumatic valves with small vent cross-sections are used, then the device structure remains simple, but the cycle time increases and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecycle timeVSAvoidvalve structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pneumatic valve is segmented into two independent valve bodies (first and second valve bodies) that can operate autonomously. Each valve body controls a separate cross-section (overflow cross-section and vent cross-section), allowing simultaneous overflow and venting operations that dramatically reduce cycle time without requiring a completely redesigned complex valve system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first and second valve bodies are integrated into a single pneumatic valve assembly sharing common components such as the diaphragm, housing, and control mechanism. This merging provides rapid venting capability while maintaining structural simplicity and avoiding the need for entirely separate valve systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Productivity

If additional quick venting devices are added to reduce cycle time, then productivity improves, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecycle timeVSAvoidnumber of valves
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pneumatic valve performs multiple functions through its two valve bodies: the first valve body handles overflow control while the second valve body handles rapid venting. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate quick venting devices, reducing overall system complexity while achieving short cycle times

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The single pneumatic valve is segmented into two functional valve bodies that independently control different flow paths. This internal segmentation allows the valve to provide both overflow and rapid venting capabilities without requiring multiple external valves or complex additional quick venting devices

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Object-affected harmful factors

If small vent cross-sections are used in pneumatic valves, then the valve structure remains compact, but venting noise increases and response behavior becomes variable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveventing noiseVSAvoidvalve cross-section design
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The vent cross-section is designed to be dynamically controllable through the second valve body, which can open or close the vent path based on system pressure conditions. This dynamic control allows the vent cross-section to adapt to different operating states, reducing noise during normal operation while providing rapid venting when needed, without requiring a fundamentally complex valve design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 proposed solution enables significantly faster cycle times and reduced wear, eliminating the need for expensive and structurally disadvantageous valves, while minimizing noise and flow issues during venting processes, thus enhancing the operational efficiency of hydropneumatic devices.

Implementation Method 1

the pneumatic valve has an overflow cross-section between an inlet side of the pneumatic valve and an outlet side of the pneumatic valve which can be automatically closed by a first valve body, such that the first valve body opens the overflow cross-section when the gas pressure on the outlet side falls below a predeterminable outlet pressure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas pressure: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

the second valve body opens the vent cross-section when the gas pressure on the outlet side rises above the predefinable outlet pressure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 3

hydraulic fluid is displaced by the translator piston and the displaced hydraulic fluid causes the second stroke of the working piston

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic fluid displacement: Hydraulic Press

Implementation Method 4

the first stroke is controllable via pneumatic actuation of the working piston and the second stroke via pneumatic actuation of the translator piston

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPneumatic actuation: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP3425214B1Hydropneumatic booster device
Publication Date: 2019.12.25 TOX PRESSOTECHNIK GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3425214B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3425214B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3425214B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A hydropneumatic device (1) for pressure transmission is proposed, comprising a movable working piston (3) and a movable transducer piston (17) for pressure transmission to the working piston (3), wherein a pneumatic unit of the device (1) is provided with a pneumatic valve (31). According to the invention, the pneumatic valve (31) is designed such that the area of ​​a vent cross-section is at least 30 percent of the area of ​​an overflow cross-section.