Miter Gate Actuator With Damper and Swing Arms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional actuators for miter gates face challenges in efficiently managing the opening and closing of beveled doors, particularly in environments with high-pressure loads and potential debris from railgun operations, leading to system inefficiencies and risk of damage from blowback debris.
Innovation Solution
A mechanism comprising a base, slider, yoke, shaft, damper, and swing arms that supports the miter gate, utilizing a tunnel for slider translation, clevis, and spring systems to control door movement, with rubber wheels and steel bumpers to absorb impacts and maintain door alignment, ensuring secure closure and quick opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional actuators are used for miter gates, then the structure is simpler, but the reliability deteriorates due to inability to effectively manage high-pressure loads and debris
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator is divided into multiple functional components: a slider assembly for linear movement, a yoke assembly with clevis for rotational conversion, swing arms for door actuation, and a damper system for shock absorption. Each segment performs a specific function, allowing the complex task of managing high-pressure loads and debris to be distributed across specialized sub-components, thereby improving overall reliability without requiring a monolithic complex structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary components such as the damper assembly with shock-absorbing elements, swing arms as transmission mediators, and sealed slider components. These intermediaries protect the core actuation mechanism from direct exposure to high-pressure loads and debris, allowing reliable operation in harsh environments while maintaining a manageable structural complexity through modular design
2Speed
If the slider translates towards the doors to open them, then the opening speed is faster, but the force required increases under high-pressure loads
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator employs dynamic mechanisms including a movable slider that translates along a guided path, swing arms that pivot to convert linear motion to rotational motion of doors, and a damper system that dynamically absorbs shock loads. This dynamic design allows rapid door opening by maintaining optimal force application angles and utilizing inertial effects, reducing the peak force required compared to static actuation systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from direct linear actuation to a multi-dimensional motion path: the slider moves linearly along the tunnel axis, the yoke converts this to rotational motion, and swing arms provide an additional rotational dimension to actuate the doors. This dimensional transformation allows the system to achieve fast door opening by distributing force application across multiple motion stages, reducing the force burden on any single component
3Force
If the slider translates away from the doors to close them, then the closing force is sufficient, but the closing speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator employs periodic action through the oscillatory motion of swing arms and the reciprocating movement of the slider within the tunnel. During closing, the slider translates away from the doors in controlled increments, with the swing arms providing periodic rotational impulses that maintain sufficient closing force while preventing excessive speed. The damper system introduces controlled damping to regulate the closing speed, ensuring safe operation while maintaining adequate force application
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic design allows the closing operation to optimize both force and speed by utilizing the inertial effects of moving components. The slider's reciprocating motion within the guided tunnel, combined with the swing arms' pivoting action, creates a dynamic closing sequence where force is applied efficiently at critical moments while the overall closing speed remains controlled. The damper system dynamically adjusts resistance to achieve balanced force-speed characteristics
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 mechanism effectively prevents debris from entering the autoloader and magazine areas, maintains door alignment under pressure, and ensures reliable operation by isolating and redirecting debris, reducing the risk of damage and system inefficiencies during railgun operations.
Implementation Method 1
The damper has a tube that houses a spring into which a tang inserts
Implementation Method 2
The damper has a tube that houses a spring into which a tang inserts
Implementation Method 3
with rubber wheels and steel bumpers to absorb impacts and maintain door alignment
Data Source
AI summary
An actuator is provided for opening and closing a miter gate. The actuator includes a base, a slider, a yoke, a shaft, a damper and swing arms. The base supports the miter gate as a pair of doors each hinging on respective posts. The base includes a tunnel into which the slider translates. The yoke has a clevis and prongs extending therefrom that pivot on the base and a clevis. The shaft turns in the clevis. The damper has a tube that houses a spring into which a tang inserts. The tang pivots on the shaft within the clevis. The tube pivots on the slider. The first and second swing arms pivotably connect to the slider and to the doors. The doors open by translating the slider towards the doors. The doors close by translating the slider away from the doors.