Piston Recoil Pressure Control With Valve-Regulated Air Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing exoskeleton systems face limitations in power sources, such as battery-powered motors and pneumatic pistons that are cumbersome and have limited duration, and spring-based systems that lack flexibility and cause jerky movements.
Innovation Solution
A piston mechanism using air compression and a multi-directional valve controller to adjust and conserve recoil pressure, allowing for smooth and natural movements by regulating air flow through various valve positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If spring-based mechanisms are used to provide assist power, then the system becomes lighter, but the spring force cannot be adjusted as required and releases force abruptly causing jerky movements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a pneumatic piston system where compressed air is stored in a reservoir and released through controllable valves to provide assistive force. This replaces the spring mechanism while maintaining lightweight design, and the valve control enables adjustable and smooth force delivery throughout the piston's travel.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical state and flow parameters of compressed air through valve control to regulate the assistive force. By controlling the rate and amount of air flow to the piston, the system achieves adjustable and smooth force delivery, eliminating the abrupt force release characteristic of spring mechanisms.
2Power
If pneumatic pistons powered by pressurized air tanks are used, then assist power is provided, but the devices are cumbersome and tether users to the air supply with limited duration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the air reservoir directly into the piston assembly, combining the power storage and power delivery functions into a single compact unit. This eliminates the need for separate air tanks and supply lines, making the system lightweight and untethered while providing inexhaustible assist power through atmospheric air intake during piston retraction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the piston's own motion to intake atmospheric air during the retraction phase, which is then stored and used to power the extension phase. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external air supply systems, making the device lightweight and indefinitely operable.
3Power
If pneumatic pistons are used to power exoskeletons, then assist power is provided, but the capacity of the pressurized air supply limits the duration of usage
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously intakes atmospheric air during each piston retraction cycle and stores it for the subsequent extension cycle. This continuous replenishment of compressed air ensures inexhaustible assist power, eliminating the duration limitation inherent in finite pressurized air tanks while maintaining continuous useful action throughout operation.
4Force
If spring mechanisms are activated, then assist force is provided, but they release force abruptly causing jerky or violent movements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a pneumatic piston with controllable valve flow regulation to deliver assistive force. The pneumatic system with valve control provides smooth and gradual force application throughout the piston's travel, eliminating the abrupt force release characteristic of spring mechanisms and ensuring natural, jerk-free movements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically controls the air flow rate to the piston through valve regulation, allowing the assistive force to be smoothly modulated throughout the movement cycle. This dynamic control ensures that force is applied progressively and naturally, matching the user's movement intentions without abrupt or violent transitions.
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
Provides lightweight, inexhaustible power assistance with adjustable force, ensuring smooth and natural movements in exoskeletons, reducing physical strain and fatigue.
Implementation Method 1
The system uses air compression in a piston to augment reverse motion
Data Source
AI summary
A system and a method for piston recoil pressure adjustment are disclosed. The system and the method use air compression in a piston to augment reverse motion. The system and the method contain a piston and a multi-directional valve controller. The multi-directional valve controller allows the venting of air in a first section above the piston head externally and/or to a second section below the piston head. By alternatingly opening and closing the vents, air can be pumped into the second section to increase the recoil forces. A reservoir connected to the second section below the piston head through an air retardation device serves to dampen abrupt changes of pressure during piston compression or decompression, thereby providing a relatively uniform recoil assistance.