Hydropneumatic Membrane Cylinder With Separate Chambers for Smooth Stroke

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hydropneumatic membrane cylinders experience discontinuities in the movement of the piston rod due to mutual influence and potential contact between membranes in the middle position, leading to inefficiencies in winding processes.

Innovation Solution

The design features two separate cylinder chambers within the cylinder housing, each accommodating a membrane piston, with a pneumatically decoupled arrangement and an intermediate piston rod piece that penetrates through an intermediate cylinder wall, preventing membrane contact and ensuring continuous movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If two membrane pistons are arranged axially offset in a common cylinder chamber with an air-filled intermediate space, then the structure is compact and membranes can influence each other for force relief, but the membranes may touch each other in the middle position causing discontinuities in piston rod movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecylinder chamber structureVSAvoidcontinuity of piston rod movement
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The common cylinder chamber is divided into two separate cylinder chambers (first cylinder chamber and second cylinder chamber) by an intermediate cylinder wall. This segmentation prevents the membranes from touching each other while maintaining the compact structure, thereby ensuring continuous piston rod movement without discontinuities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

An intermediate cylinder wall is introduced as a mediator between the two membrane pistons. This intermediate wall physically separates the chambers, preventing direct contact between membranes while still allowing the system to function with two membrane pistons in a compact arrangement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Volume of moving object

If membranes are arranged close to each other in a common cylinder chamber, then the device is compact, but mutual influence between membranes can cause discontinuities in movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecylinder chamber volumeVSAvoidsmoothness of piston rod movement
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cylinder chamber is segmented into two separate chambers by an intermediate wall, maintaining compact volume while preventing mutual membrane influence that would cause movement discontinuities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Force

If pressure is applied to both pressure chambers simultaneously, then force relief is achieved, but the intermediate space collapses causing membranes to touch

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforce relief on piston rodVSAvoidmembrane separation
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure chambers are segmented into separate first and second cylinder chambers by an intermediate wall, allowing simultaneous pressurization for force relief while preventing the intermediate space from collapsing and membranes from touching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

This solution allows for continuous and efficient movement of the piston rod, preventing membrane contact and maintaining uniform winding pressure, thereby enhancing the uniformity and consistency of the winding process.

Implementation Method 1

hydraulic oil being subjected to pneumatic pressure via a pressure converter outside of the cylinder housing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPneumatic pressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

hydraulic oil is applied to the pressure chamber 18 formed on the right-hand housing part 17

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure transmission: Pascal's Law

Implementation Method 3

pressurization of the membranes takes place by application of pneumatic pressure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPneumatic pressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentEP3715645B1Hydropneumatic membrane cylinder
Publication Date: 2023.08.09 ACHENBACH BUSCHHITTEN GMBH
  • EP3715645B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

Hydropneumatic diaphragm cylinder (30) with a cylinder housing (31) and two diaphragm pistons (36, 37) arranged in a cylinder chamber arrangement (32), each with a diaphragm (38, 39) extending radially between a cylinder wall (60) and a piston rod assembly (35), wherein the diaphragm pistons (36, 37) are arranged axially offset on the piston rod assembly (35) such that pressurization of one diaphragm piston (36) causes the piston rod assembly (35) to retract and pressurization of the other diaphragm piston (37) causes the piston rod assembly (37) to extend, wherein the cylinder chamber arrangement (32) has two separate cylinder chambers (33, 34) arranged in the cylinder housing (31), each accommodating a diaphragm piston (36, 37).