Pneumatic Damper Bypass Layout for High-Speed Piston Impact

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Solution Overview

Problem

In pneumatic or hydraulic systems with two-stage valves, the high kinetic energy of the piston upon release can cause damage to valve components due to its high velocity, which existing designs fail to mitigate without compromising performance or reducing input pressure.

Innovation Solution

A two-stage valve design featuring a piston with a bypass channel that connects the first and second chambers, allowing for controlled axial movement and reducing piston velocity through a ventilation passageway that prevents gas leakage, thereby reducing the force imparted on the plug and valve housing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the piston is released to block the pressurised fluid input, then the output flowpath is unblocked and valve performance is improved, but the piston travels at high velocity causing damage to valve components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve performanceVSAvoidpiston kinetic energy damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A bypass channel is introduced as an intermediary element that allows controlled fluid flow between chambers during piston movement. This mediator enables energy dissipation through the bypass channel while the piston performs its blocking function, resolving the contradiction between maintaining valve performance and reducing harmful kinetic energy effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful kinetic energy effect is extracted and separated from the main piston function. By providing a bypass channel that diverts fluid flow, the harmful high-velocity impact is removed from the direct path, allowing the piston to perform its blocking function without causing damage to valve components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a bypass channel is added to reduce piston velocity, then harmful kinetic energy is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepiston kinetic energyVSAvoidvalve structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bypass channel is merged with the existing valve body structure, integrating the energy dissipation function into the main component rather than adding a separate device. This combining approach reduces device complexity while still achieving the goal of reducing piston kinetic energy through controlled fluid flow paths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The bypass channel serves multiple functions: it dissipates kinetic energy during piston movement, maintains pressure balance between chambers, and enables controlled fluid flow. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving harmful factor reduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 valve design effectively reduces piston velocity and minimizes damage to components by dissipating energy through the bypass channel, ensuring reliable operation and ease of manufacturing without additional parts, and allowing for the use of additive manufacturing techniques.

Implementation Method 1

a bypass channel configured to fluidly connect the first chamber (90) to said second chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow through bypass channel:

Implementation Method 2

said plug has a ventilation passageway extending therethrough

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas flow control through ventilation passageway:

Data Source

PatentUS11543046B2Pneumatic damper for piston used in pressure regulator

Publication Date: 2023.01.03 GOODRICH CORP

AI summary

A valve includes a valve housing body extending along a central longitudinal axis (X) between a first end and a second end. The valve housing comprises a first chamber at said first end comprising a gas inlet for receiving a gas and a second chamber at said second end having a plug provided at said second end, and an inter-chamber passageway connecting said first chamber to said second chamber. The valve further comprises a gas outlet provided in said inter-chamber passageway, and a piston provided in said inter-chamber passageway. The piston is movable between a first position wherein said outlet is blocked by said piston and a second position wherein said outlet is not blocked by said piston. The plug has a ventilation passageway extending therethrough. The valve has bypass channel configured to fluidly connect the first chamber to said second chamber and is not aligned with the ventilation passage.