Oscillating Piston Pump Phase Control for Vibration Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid pumps for portable oxygen concentrators face challenges in minimizing size, weight, power consumption, and mechanical vibration while achieving high efficiency and portability, with prior designs failing to meet the required energy conversion efficiency and pressure ratios.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates oscillating pistons with a central axis, driven by magnetic forces and controlled by a programmable current waveform, utilizing a gas bearing between the piston and cylinder to minimize friction, and employs a control system to maintain 180-degree phase difference between piston oscillations, with additional features like magnetic repulsion to stabilize piston movement and reduce vibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional fluid pumps are used in portable oxygen concentrators, then pumping function is achieved, but size, weight, and power consumption are too high for portable use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical drive systems with electromagnetic coils that directly actuate the pistons through magnetic forces. This eliminates mechanical transmissions, reduce moving parts, and improves energy conversion efficiency from electrical to mechanical work, directly addressing the power consumption issue while maintaining pumping capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The pump is divided into multiple independent piston-cylinder assemblies (first piston, second piston, third piston) that can be controlled independently. This segmentation allows for optimized power distribution to each piston, reduces the workload on individual components, and enables the system to achieve required pumping capacity through coordinated operation of multiple smaller units rather than one large pump
2Object-generated harmful factors
If single piston oscillation is used, then pumping action is achieved, but mechanical vibration is excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs multiple pistons (first, second, and third pistons) oscillating in coordinated phases to counterbalance each other's vibrations. By positioning pistons at specific angular intervals and controlling their oscillation phases, the system creates opposing vibrational forces that cancel out, significantly reducing net mechanical vibration and making the device suitable for portable use
Solution Approach 2:
The pistons are driven to oscillate in periodic cycles with controlled phase differences. The first and second pistons oscillate 180 degrees out of phase, while the third piston oscillates 90 degrees out of phase from the first. This periodic, phased oscillation pattern creates smooth, balanced operation that minimizes vibration while maintaining continuous pumping action
3Weight of moving object
If piston mass is reduced for portability, then weight decreases, but oscillation stability and control become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully optimizes the mass parameters of the pistons to achieve the desired balance between weight reduction and oscillation stability. By adjusting piston mass, dimensions, and material properties, the system achieves sufficient inertia for stable oscillation control while keeping overall weight low enough for portable application
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 achieves improved energy efficiency, reduced weight and size, and minimized vibration, effectively meeting the design criteria for portable oxygen concentrators and scalable for various applications, while maintaining high pneumatic power output with reduced electrical input.
Implementation Method 1
The first and second pistons are driven by magnetic forces generated by electrical currents to oscillate the first and second pistons with a similar stroke length
Implementation Method 2
utilizing a gas bearing between the piston and cylinder to minimize friction
Data Source
AI summary
A method of controlling a fluid pump. The pump has a plurality of oscillating pistons that travel along a central axis of a piston sleeve. A plurality of pistons is of similar mass within a piston sleeve are provided, and adjacent pistons are positioned to be 180 degrees apart in phase oscillations. An electric coil is provided for each piston, and the position of adjacent pistons is determined. The current to one of the electric coils for a piston is adjusted to maintain the 180 degree difference in phase between oscillations of adjacent pistons.