Magnetic Piston Actuator With Segregated Chambers for Leak Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing actuators for fluid systems often suffer from fluid leaks despite advanced sealing technologies, and there is a need for leak-proof designs that do not increase the component's size.
Innovation Solution
A magnetic actuator design featuring a housing with a magnet piston chamber and a prime piston chamber, where the magnet piston is responsive to the prime piston's movement through magnetic interaction, eliminating any fluid path between the two chambers and thus preventing leaks, while maintaining a compact size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional actuators with fluid paths are used, then actuation function is achieved, but fluid leaks occur and seals are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical fluid connection system with a magnetic field-based actuation system. The prime piston chamber and magnet piston chamber are completely segregated with no fluid path between them. Instead of mechanical or hydraulic connection, a magnetic couplet (magnetic field interaction) transmits the actuation force across the segregated chambers, eliminating the need for seals and fluid connections while maintaining actuation functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator is divided into two completely separate and segregated chambers: the prime piston chamber and the magnet piston chamber. These chambers are physically separated with no fluid path or direct mechanical connection between them. The segmentation is achieved through distinct housing structures and sealed compartments, allowing independent operation of each chamber while maintaining functional coupling through magnetic interaction.
2Reliability
If magnetic actuation is used to eliminate fluid paths, then leaks are prevented, but girth increases
Solution Approach 1:
The magnet piston chamber and its components are nested within or alongside the prime piston chamber in a space-efficient arrangement. The magnetic couplet components are positioned to utilize the existing chamber volumes effectively, with the magnet piston chamber potentially housed within the same overall actuator body as the prime piston chamber. This nesting approach minimizes the overall girth while accommodating both segregated chambers and their magnetic actuation components.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic field interaction allows force transmission in a direction perpendicular to the fluid paths, utilizing the magnetic field dimension rather than requiring additional linear space for fluid connections. The magnetic couplet transmits actuation force through magnetic field lines that can penetrate the chamber separation, effectively using a different dimensional approach to force transmission that doesn't increase linear girth proportionally.
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 magnetic actuator provides a leak-proof mechanism for actuating components without the need for seals, ensuring no fluid path exists between the magnet and prime piston chambers, enhancing reliability and reducing the risk of leaks in applications like subsurface safety valves.
Implementation Method 1
the magnet piston is responsive to movement of the prime piston by magnetic interaction between the magnet piston and the prime piston
Data Source
AI summary
A magnetic actuator including a housing having an inside surface, an outside surface and a body between the inside and outside surfaces; a mobile component movable relative to the housing; a magnet piston chamber disposed within the body; a magnet piston disposed in the magnet piston chamber and disposed to effect movement of the mobile component relative to the housing, the magnet piston having a magnetic field; a prime piston chamber disposed within the body in spaced relationship to the magnet piston chamber and segregated from the magnet piston chamber by material of the body, there being no fluid path between the magnet piston chamber and the prime piston chamber; a prime piston disposed in the prime piston chamber, the prime piston having a magnetic field; wherein the magnet piston is responsive to movement of the prime piston by magnetic interaction between the magnet piston and the prime piston.