Multi-Outlet Viscous Material Valve Layout With Nested Cylinders
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing apparatuses for applying viscous materials, such as adhesives or sealants, have a wide construction due to cylinders being arranged next to each other for activating valve needles, which increases in size and weight with more material outlets and cylinders.
Innovation Solution
The cylinders are arranged in a row instead of next to each other, allowing piston rods to pass through sealed piston chambers of adjacent cylinders, with congruent cross-sections perpendicular to a common longitudinal axis, and incorporating ferromagnetic elements for precise piston position monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If cylinders are arranged next to each other for activating valve needles, then each valve needle can be activated independently, but the apparatus becomes wide and increases in size with more material outlets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the nesting principle by arranging cylinders in a longitudinal row where piston rods pass through the piston chambers of adjacent cylinders. This nested configuration allows multiple cylinders to occupy a compact space along the longitudinal axis while maintaining independent activation capability for each valve needle, thereby reducing the apparatus width without sacrificing operational independence.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a lateral arrangement of cylinders (increasing width) to a longitudinal arrangement (increasing length). By reorienting the cylinder configuration from a wide横向 layout to a narrow longitudinal layout, the apparatus achieves the same functional capability with a significantly reduced cross-sectional width, effectively trading one dimension for another.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple cylinders are arranged next to each other, then each material outlet can be controlled separately, but the apparatus weight increases with more cylinders
Solution Approach 1:
The nested arrangement of cylinders allows the system to maintain multiple independent control units while sharing common structural space. The piston rods passing through adjacent cylinder chambers create a compact configuration that reduces overall material usage and structural weight compared to a traditional side-by-side arrangement, thereby maintaining versatility while reducing apparatus weight.
3Area of stationary object
If cylinders are arranged in a row with piston rods passing through sealed chambers, then the apparatus becomes narrower, but the sealing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by using identical sealing mechanisms (packings) in each cylinder chamber to handle the piston rods. This standardized sealing approach, where each cylinder employs the same sealing principle for its piston rod passing through the chamber, simplifies the overall sealing system design and maintenance while enabling the compact longitudinal arrangement of cylinders.
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 configuration results in a narrower apparatus design, enabling precise positioning and monitoring of valve needles, reducing complexity and weight while maintaining efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
a cylinder (16a, 16b, 16c) is assigned to each valve needle (14), in the piston chamber (18) of which a piston (20) can be moved by means of applying pressure using a fluid, in particular compressed air
Implementation Method 2
incorporating ferromagnetic elements for precise piston position monitoring
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for applying viscous material to workpieces has at least two material outlets. A needle valve is assigned to each material outlet, the valve needle of which being able to close the respective material outlet on a valve seat. Each valve needle is assigned a cylinder, in the piston chamber of which a piston is movable by pressure applied by a fluid, and which cylinder has a piston rod for impingement on the respective valve needle, the piston rod being connected to the piston, being guided out of the piston chamber on an end face facing the valve seats and extending longitudinally. The cylinders are arranged one behind the other longitudinally and the piston rod of at least one of the cylinders is guided in a sealed manner through the piston chamber of at least one further cylinder arranged closer on the valve seats.