Fluid Pressure Cylinder Bypass Return Using Reused Chamber Air
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing driving methods for fluid pressure cylinders are inefficient in reducing fluid consumption and shortening the returning step time, as they rely solely on the fluid supply source during the returning operation.
Innovation Solution
The method involves utilizing discharged fluid from one cylinder chamber to drive the piston in the returning step by supplying it to the other chamber, thereby reducing fluid consumption and increasing pressure in the other chamber, allowing for rapid piston movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fluid is supplied from the supply source to both cylinder chambers during returning step, then the piston can be driven reliably, but fluid consumption increases and the returning time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The discharged fluid from the first cylinder chamber is recovered and reused to drive the piston during the returning step. Instead of discarding the fluid after the driving step, the system captures it through the switching valve and redirects it to the second cylinder chamber, thereby recovering a valuable resource and reducing overall fluid consumption from the supply source.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own discharged fluid to service the returning step requirement. The fluid that was discharged during the driving step is self-utilized to provide the necessary pressure for piston return, making the system self-sufficient and reducing dependence on external fluid supply during the returning phase.
2Reliability
If fluid is supplied from the supply source to both cylinder chambers during returning step, then the piston can be driven reliably, but the returning time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuous useful action by immediately redirecting the discharged fluid to drive the returning step without interruption. The switching valve enables seamless transition from discharge to reuse, ensuring that the piston return begins immediately with available pressurized fluid, thereby reducing returning time while maintaining reliable driving action.
Solution Approach 2:
The discharged fluid from the driving step is preliminarily prepared and held in the system ready for immediate reuse. The switching valve is positioned to capture and store the discharged fluid in a state ready for rapid deployment to the second cylinder chamber, enabling quick initiation of the returning step without waiting for new fluid supply.
3Productivity
If discharged fluid is utilized to drive the piston during returning step, then fluid consumption is reduced and returning time is shortened, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The switching valve performs multiple functions: it controls fluid supply during the driving step, manages fluid discharge, and redirects discharged fluid for reuse during the returning step. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby limiting the increase in system complexity while achieving fluid recovery and time reduction benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The switching valve acts as an intermediary component that mediates between the cylinder chambers and the fluid supply/discharge paths. By introducing this single intermediary device, the system achieves complex fluid management (capture, redirect, and reuse) without requiring multiple separate control mechanisms, thus limiting the overall complexity increase.
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 approach reduces fluid consumption and shortens the time required for the returning step by utilizing discharged fluid to drive the piston, enhancing operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
fluid is supplied from the supply source to one of the cylinder chambers
Implementation Method 2
fluid is supplied from the supply source to the other cylinder chamber, to thereby further move the piston in the other direction
Data Source
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AI summary
A driving apparatus (10) for driving a fluid pressure cylinder (12) includes an air supply source (52) for supplying air, a switching valve (14) for switching between a state of supplying air to the fluid pressure cylinder (12) and a state of discharging air from the fluid pressure cylinder (12), a bypass pipe (20) for connecting a head-side cylinder chamber (16) and a rod-side cylinder chamber (18) of the fluid pressure cylinder (12), and a bypass switching valve (22) for switching a flow state of air in the bypass pipe (20). Further, in a returning step of the fluid pressure cylinder (12), the bypass switching valve (22) is opened to thereby supply the air in the head-side cylinder chamber (16) to the rod-side cylinder chamber (18) through the bypass pipe (20).