Piston Accumulator End-Position Cushioning for Rapid Emptying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Piston accumulators face damage and reduced service life due to high dynamics and rapid emptying processes, leading to frequent replacements, and existing damping solutions are costly and insufficient for all operating conditions.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an end-position cushioning mechanism with a narrowing gap between the separator piston and accumulator housing, which increases flow resistance as the piston approaches its stop position, preventing unintended impact and enhancing damping through progressive fluid flow throttling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the separator piston is allowed to move rapidly for high dynamics operation, then productivity and response time are improved, but the separator piston may hit the solid closing part hard causing damage and reduced reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by providing end-position cushioning between the separator piston and the solid closing part. This cushioning mechanism is pre-configured to absorb impact energy when the piston reaches its end position, preventing hard impacts and damage while allowing rapid motion during normal operation. The cushioning element is positioned in advance to engage only when needed.
2Reliability
If a damping device is added to prevent piston impact, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing costs and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the damping function with the existing end-position stop structure. Instead of adding a separate complex damping device, the invention integrates the cushioning function into the existing structural elements at the piston's end position, combining multiple functions into a single integrated solution that reduces overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping mechanism is designed to be self-regulating, using the fluid pressure and flow resistance generated during piston motion to automatically provide cushioning. The system uses its own operating fluid and motion to create the damping effect, eliminating the need for external control systems or additional active components.
3Ease of manufacture
If constant choke cross-sections are used for damping, then manufacturing is simplified, but sufficient damping cannot be guaranteed for all operating conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the damping characteristic variable rather than constant. The damping orifice geometry changes with piston position, providing different flow resistance at different operating points. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain optimal damping performance across varying operating conditions while using a relatively simple geometric feature.
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 solution provides reliable, cost-effective damping even at high motion energies, preventing damage and ensuring functional reliability by progressively increasing damping as the piston approaches its stop position, thus extending the accumulator's service life.
Implementation Method 1
builds up a flow resistance, which inhibits the motion of the separator piston
Implementation Method 2
The fluid flow throttled by means of the gap when the separator piston moves towards its lower stop position achieves a functionally reliable effective damping
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a piston accumulator having an accumulator housing (10) and a separator piston (12), which can be moved longitudinally in the accumulator housing (10) and separates two media spaces (14, 16) from each other, which is characterized in that an end-position cushioning (28) is provided between the separator piston (12) and the accumulator housing (10), which end-position cushioning (28) has at least one gap (66, 72) that narrows as the motion of the separator piston (12) increases in the direction of its end position and in that way builds up a flow resistance, which inhibits the motion of the separator piston (12), and which is introduced as a recess (64, 78) into at least one of the adjacent end faces (30, 56) of the separator piston (12) and the accumulator housing (10).