Built-In Lubricating Actuator With Internal Piston Fluid Recycling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing screw-nut type actuators used in satellite telecommunications antennas face challenges with lubrication systems, including fluid wastage, complexity, bulkiness, and high consumption due to external pumps and hydraulic connections, which affect positioning accuracy and operational efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An actuator design incorporating a piston and cam mechanism within the screw-nut assembly allows for internal fluid circulation and recycling without external pumps, reducing leakage risks and fluid consumption, and integrating a suction and delivery valve system for controlled fluid circulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an external pump with injection and recovery circuits is used to circulate lubricating fluid, then lubrication effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and bulk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the pump function directly into the actuator body by integrating a piston mechanism that uses the actuator's own operational movements to drive lubricating fluid circulation. This eliminates the need for separate external pumps and complex hydraulic circuits, thereby maintaining effective lubrication while reducing device complexity and bulk.
Solution Approach 2:
The piston mechanism serves multiple functions: it provides the pump action for lubricating fluid circulation, contributes to the actuator's mechanical operation, and utilizes the existing operational movements of the actuator itself. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated external pumping systems.
2Loss of substance
If an external pump system is used to recycle lubricating fluid, then fluid recycling is achieved, but hydraulic connections increase leakage risks
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the hydraulic connections that link external pumps to the actuator. By integrating the pumping function directly into the actuator body through an internal piston mechanism, the system removes the leakage-prone external hydraulic interfaces while maintaining effective lubricating fluid circulation and recycling.
3Reliability
If a reservoir mounted integral with the nut is used for lubrication, then lubrication is provided, but the useful stroke of the actuator is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of mounting the lubricating fluid reservoir on the nut (which would reduce the linear stroke space), the invention positions the reservoir within the actuator body and uses a piston mechanism that operates in a different spatial dimension. This allows the piston to move radially or axially within the body to drive fluid circulation without encroaching on the nut's linear travel path, thereby maintaining full useful stroke.
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 enables efficient lubrication and fluid recycling within the actuator, reducing bulk and complexity, minimizing fluid usage, and eliminating external system failure modes, while maintaining positioning accuracy and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a cam surface fixed relative to the body and against which the piston is held in abutment so that a rotation of the first element relative to the body causes a reciprocating movement in translation of the piston between the first extreme position and the second extreme position
Implementation Method 2
the actuator comprises a suction duct formed in the first element and suitable for supplying the cylinder with lubricating fluid, and a suction valve suitable for allowing circulation of lubricating fluid in the suction duct towards the cylinder when the piston is moved from the first extreme position to the second extreme position
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6
AI summary
The invention relates to an actuator (1) comprising: a body (4), a first element (5) mounted such that it can move rotatably in relation to said body (4), and a second element (6) mounted such that it can move translatably in relation to said body (4), either the first element (5) or the second element (6) being a screw and the other one being a nut, the nut cooperating with the screw such that a rotation of the first element (5) in relation to the body (4) around an axis of rotation (X) causes the translation of the second element (6) in relation to the body (4) parallel to the axis of rotation (X), a cylinder which is stationary in relation to the first element (5), a piston mounted such that it can move translatably inside the cylinder between a first end position and a second end position, and a cam surface which is stationary in relation to the body (4) and against which the piston is supported such that a rotation of the first element (5) in relation to the body (4) causes a translatory back-and-forth movement of the piston between the first end position and the second end position.