Pneumatic Actuator Angle for Weight Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing weight compensation systems for heavy structural units require large installation space and high energy storage capacity, leading to increased costs and potential vibrations, with compensating forces decreasing at varying positions, especially during lifting.
Innovation Solution
A device that generates a compensating force by aligning the actuator force at a predeterminable angle to the weight force, allowing the energy storage device to increase actuator force with movement, reducing storage capacity and installation space requirements, and maintaining a constant compensating force over the component's range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a counterweight system with mechanical energy exchange is used, then weight compensation is achieved, but the installation space and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a pneumatic actuator instead of traditional mechanical counterweight systems. The actuator uses compressed air stored in an energy store to generate the compensating force, replacing complex mechanical linkages with a more compact pneumatic system that requires less installation space while maintaining the weight compensation function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the energy storage from mechanical potential energy (counterweights) to pneumatic pressure energy. By storing energy as compressed air and releasing it through a pneumatic actuator, the system achieves the same force generation with reduced spatial requirements and simplified mechanics.
2Force
If the energy store capacity is increased to maintain compensating force at variable positions, then force consistency improves, but costs and installation space increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a variable angle mechanism where the actuator's orientation changes dynamically with the component's position. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain consistent compensating force throughout the movement range without requiring excessive energy storage capacity, as the mechanical advantage varies to compensate for position changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes changes in the actuator's angular position as a parameter to maintain force consistency. By varying the angle between the actuator force vector and the weight force vector, the effective compensating force remains constant even with limited energy store capacity, avoiding the need for oversized energy storage.
3Force
If a traction mechanism with counterweight is used, then weight compensation is achieved, but vibrations occur and the moving mass doubles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical traction mechanism with a pneumatic actuator system. This eliminates the rigid mechanical connections and cable tensions that cause vibrations, while the compressible nature of pneumatic systems provides natural vibration damping. The pneumatic actuator directly generates the compensating force without requiring a counterweight, avoiding doubled moving mass.
4Device complexity
If the actuator angle is fixed, then device complexity is reduced, but compensating force varies with component position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic angle adjustment mechanism where the actuator's orientation automatically varies with the component's position. This dynamic configuration maintains optimal force alignment throughout the movement range, ensuring consistent compensating force without requiring complex control systems or multiple actuators.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs an asymmetric geometric arrangement where the actuator's angle of application changes systematically with position. This asymmetric design allows the force vector to consistently oppose the weight force regardless of the component's vertical position, maintaining force consistency through geometric rather than control-based means.
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 enables reduced storage capacity and installation space, maintaining a consistent compensating force over the component's movement, reducing energy consumption and costs while minimizing vibrations, and ensuring efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
at least one energy store (17) to which the at least one actuator (7a-7d) can be connected and acts on the respective component (5) with an actuator force (FZ)
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device (1) for generating a compensation force (FX) which acts counter to a weight force (FG), acting in a force direction (FG), of at least one movable component (5), comprising at least one actuator (7a, 7d) which can be moved in an actuator direction (FZ), which is connectable to at least one energy accumulator (17) and acts with an actuator force (FZ) on the respective component (5), which device is characterized in that the force direction (FG) and the actuator direction (FZ) enclose a predeterminable angle (a) such that the force component (cos · FZ), directed counter to the force action (FG), of the actuator force (FZ) forms the compensation force (FX) with respect to the weight force (FG).