Membrane Dosing Actuator With Sealless Coupling for High-Viscosity Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dosing systems with pneumatic or hydraulic actuators face issues such as increased wear, reduced service life, and higher maintenance costs due to frictional seals and fixed connections between the discharge element and membrane, which also limit the clock frequency and dosing accuracy, especially with high-viscosity materials.
Innovation Solution
A dosing system with a separately formed discharge element and actuator membrane, where the discharge element is coupled via adhesion rather than fixed connections, allowing for a lightweight and efficient actuator design that minimizes material weakening and friction, enabling high dynamic values and uninterrupted service life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a pneumatic or hydraulic actuator with frictional seals is used, then the construction is simple and cost-effective, but wear increases and service life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the frictional seals from the actuator design. By using a bellows-operated pneumatic actuator without frictional seals, the patent removes the source of wear while maintaining the simplicity of pneumatic operation. This resolves the contradiction by achieving both construction simplicity and extended service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the traditional mechanical seal system with a sealless bellows mechanism. The bellows provides sealing through its flexible structure rather than through frictional contact, eliminating wear while maintaining the pneumatic actuation system's simplicity and cost-effectiveness.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the discharge element is firmly connected to the membrane, then a fixed connection is achieved, but material weakening occurs and service life is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a static fixed connection to a dynamic adhesion-based connection. The discharge element is held to the membrane by adhesive forces that can dynamically adjust during operation, allowing the connection to maintain stability while avoiding the material weakening and stress concentration associated with rigid fixed connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the membrane as a flexible element that works in conjunction with adhesive forces rather than rigid mechanical connections. This approach allows the thin membrane structure to function effectively without being compromised by the stress and material removal required for fixed connections.
3Ease of operation
If the discharge element remains in retracted position, then contactless dosing is achieved, but dosing accuracy may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs periodic actuation of the discharge element, where the element is briefly advanced from the retracted position to discharge the dosing material and then returned to the retracted position. This periodic motion enables contactless dosing between actuations while maintaining dosing accuracy through controlled discharge events.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention controls dosing accuracy by changing the parameters of the discharge element's motion, such as the duration and speed of advancement, the pressure applied, and the timing of the periodic cycles. These parameter adjustments allow precise control of the dosing amount while maintaining the ability to operate in a contactless manner.
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 system achieves high dosing accuracy and frequency, extending the actuator and system service life while reducing maintenance needs, suitable for high-viscosity materials and contactless applications.
Implementation Method 1
a membrane (13) of an actuator (12) of the actuator unit can be pressurized by means of a pressure medium so that the discharge element (80) is moved in a discharge direction for discharging the dosing material
Implementation Method 2
The discharge element can be pressed by means of a force acting on the discharge element by contact pressure against a side surface of the membrane pointing in the direction of the discharge element
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a dosing system (1) for dosing a dosing material. The dosing system (1) has a housing (11), comprising a nozzle (70) and a supply channel (62) for dosing material, and a discharge element (80) movably mounted in the housing (11) and an actuator unit (10) coupled to the discharge element. The actuator unit (10) comprises an actuator (12) having a membrane (13) which can be pressurized by means of a pressure medium in order to move the discharge element (80) in a discharge direction (RA). The discharge element (80) is formed separately and, for coupling to the actuator unit (10), is pressed by means of a force acting on the discharge element (80) against a side surface (19) of the membrane (13) pointing in the direction of the discharge element (80). Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for controlling a dosing system (1).