Impact Hammer Swing Arm Energy Storage Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pneumatic, hydraulic, and electric impact tools are inefficient due to parasitic loads, energy consumption, and noise pollution, with hydraulic tools losing energy as the piston nears the end of its stroke and pneumatic hammers requiring large quantities of compressed air.
Innovation Solution
An impact hammer design featuring a spindle with a swing arm that transfers rotational motion to an anvil, allowing energy storage and release through an energy storage medium, reducing energy consumption and noise by optimizing the movement of the piston and anvil.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If hydraulic fluid is used to stroke the hydraulic cylinder and compress the gaseous spring, then the piston can be propelled to impact, but the valve must be actuated and oil evacuated with each stroke, resulting in parasitic load that consumes stored energy and reduces efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the hydraulic fluid from the system, replacing it with a pure mechanical spring mechanism. The gaseous spring is compressed during the upward stroke and automatically expands during the downward stroke, eliminating the need for hydraulic fluid evacuation and valve actuation, thus removing the parasitic energy loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the hydraulic system with a mechanical spring system. The spring is compressed mechanically during the upward motion and releases this mechanical energy during the downward motion, substituting the complex hydraulic actuation and evacuation process with a simpler mechanical energy storage and release mechanism.
2Power
If higher reactive forces or hydraulic pressures are used to counter energy losses, then impact force is maintained, but greater energy input, structurally stronger equipment, and increased maintenance are required, resulting in shorter tool life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the hydraulic fluid and valve system that cause energy losses and require high reactive forces. The simple mechanical spring system operates without parasitic losses, allowing the tool to achieve sufficient impact force with lower operational stresses, thereby extending tool life.
3Speed
If the cylinder is moved upward rapidly to create vacuum and lift the piston, then the piston can be accelerated, but the piston continues in free body motion until impact without further acceleration, resulting in limited impact force
Solution Approach 1:
The spring is compressed during the upward stroke (preliminary action), storing energy that will be released during the downward stroke. This preliminary energy storage allows the piston to be accelerated more effectively during the downward motion, overcoming the limitation of free body motion without further acceleration.
4Power
If pneumatic hammer uses compressed air to push piston upward and accelerate it downward, then impact can be produced, but large quantities of compressed air are required, needing energy intensive compressors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the compressed air system entirely, replacing it with a mechanical spring that stores and releases energy without requiring compressed gas. This eliminates the need for energy-intensive compressors and large quantities of compressed air while maintaining impact capability.
5Power
If pneumatic hammer releases compressed air to accelerate piston, then impact is produced, but noise pollution is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the compressed air release mechanism that generates noise. The mechanical spring system operates silently, eliminating the noise pollution associated with releasing compressed air while still producing the necessary impact force through mechanical energy storage and release.
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 design achieves significant energy savings and reduced emissions, with a 1 horsepower gasoline engine providing equivalent performance to a 50 horsepower diesel engine, while minimizing air emissions and greenhouse gas production.
Implementation Method 1
The piston is adapted to interact with an energy storage medium when the swing arm moves the anvil in the first direction, thereby causing energy to be stored in the energy storage medium. As the swing arm continues to rotate, the swing arm may lose contact with the contact surface, thus allowing the energy storage medium to urge the cylinder and the anvil in a second direction opposite the first direction.
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulic, pneumatic, or electric tool may include a spindle that is adapted for rotational movement. A swing arm may be coupled to the spindle such that the rotational motion of the spindle is transferred to the swing arm. The swing arm may make contact with an anvil such that the rotational motion of the swing arm causes the anvil to move along a linear path. A piston may be operatively coupled to the anvil to follow the linear movement of the anvil. The piston may be adapted to interact with an energy storage medium when the swing arm moves the anvil in the first direction, causing energy to be stored. As the swing arm continues to rotate, the swing arm may lose contact with the anvil, thus allowing the energy storage medium to urge the piston and the anvil in a second direction opposite the first direction.