Pneumatic Cylinder Fluid Spring Return Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Single acting pneumatic cylinders face inefficiencies due to mechanical or fluid springs, which reduce forward force and increase cylinder length, while double acting cylinders require twice the air volume, leading to higher energy consumption and complex valve arrangements.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatic or hydraulic mechanism with a piston chamber and a sealing mechanism that allows fluid communication between chambers via an expandable sealing member, enabling efficient forward stroke without the need for return springs and reducing air usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single acting pneumatic cylinder uses a mechanical spring to return the piston, then the piston can be returned to its starting position, but the piston loses force on its forward stroke due to fighting the spring force and the cylinder length increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a fluid spring (compressed fluid) instead of a mechanical spring to return the piston. The fluid spring is contained within the cylinder chamber and uses compressed gas or liquid to push the piston back to its starting position, eliminating the need for external mechanical springs and maintaining full forward stroke force
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid spring is nested within the cylinder chamber, with the compressed fluid contained inside the same housing that contains the piston. This nested arrangement allows the return mechanism to be integrated within the cylinder body without increasing overall length
2Force
If a double acting pneumatic cylinder uses pressure fluid for both forward and return strokes, then the piston maintains full force on the forward stroke, but the air consumption doubles and the cylinder dimensions increase due to external tubes
Solution Approach 1:
The single fluid inlet port serves dual purposes: it supplies pressure fluid for the forward stroke and acts as the exhaust port for the return stroke. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate inlet and outlet ports, reducing the number of connections and maintaining compact dimensions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of the fluid supply line and exhaust line into a single connection point. The fluid spring mechanism combines the return stroke function with the existing pressure fluid supply, eliminating the need for a separate exhaust port and external tubing
3Ease of operation
If a double acting cylinder uses external tubes for fluid supply, then the piston can be actuated in both directions, but the overall dimensions of the pneumatic mechanism increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid spring and return mechanism are nested within the cylinder chamber, eliminating the need for external tubes and connections. The entire return system is contained within the existing cylinder housing, maintaining compact dimensions
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
Maintains full forward force and reduces air consumption by half, simplifying valve arrangements and minimizing cylinder length, thus improving operational efficiency and reducing maintenance complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a sealing mechanism (5, 1025), the sealing mechanism having a sealing state in which the sealing mechanism substantially inhibits fluid communication between the rear chamber and the front chamber
Implementation Method 2
upon supply of a fluid to the inlet port, the fluid urges the piston to the second position at which the piston forces the bumpstop to seal the exhaust port
Implementation Method 3
upon removal of fluid from the rear chamber, the fluid in the front chamber urges the piston to return to the first position
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A pneumatic or hydraulic mechanism has a housing defining a piston chamber and having a fluid inlet port. A piston is slidable in the piston chamber. The piston partitions the piston chamber into a front chamber and a rear chamber. The piston has one or more passages for fluid communication between the rear chamber and the front chamber, the one or more passages being sealed by a sealing mechanism. The sealing mechanism has a sealing state in which the sealing mechanism substantially inhibits fluid communication between the rear chamber and the front chamber, and a non-sealing state in which the sealing mechanism allows fluid communication between the rear chamber and the front chamber. The piston is slidable between a first position and a second position. When the piston is positioned in the first position, the sealing mechanism is in the sealing state. Upon supply of a fluid to the inlet port, the fluid urges the piston to its second position and then causes the sealing mechanism to change to the non-sealing state until the pressure in the rear chamber and the front chamber equalises, allowing the sealing mechanism to return to the sealing state. Upon removal of fluid from the rear chamber, the fluid in the front chamber urges the piston to return to its first position.