Three-Stage Pressure Booster With Fluid Return Pressure Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional pressure boosters have complex structures due to the need for balancing pressure values between chambers, leading to inefficient energy use and increased fluid consumption, as they require mechanisms like compression springs and grooves to facilitate piston movement.

Innovation Solution

A pressure booster with a three-stage cylinder structure, where pistons are displaced without balancing pressure values, utilizing a fluid supplying mechanism and discharge return mechanisms to alternately supply and discharge fluid between pressurizing chambers, allowing for efficient pressure boosting up to three times the original pressure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If pressure balancing mechanisms (compression springs, grooves) are integrated into the pressure booster to enable piston movement, then the pressure boosting function is achieved, but the device structure becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure boosting functionVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the complex pressure balancing mechanisms (compression springs, grooves) from the pressure booster structure. Instead of integrating these mechanisms within the booster, the invention uses a external pressure control system that regulates pressure through fluid supply and discharge, thereby achieving pressure boosting without internal mechanical complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies pneumatic principles by using fluid pressure control to drive piston movement. Instead of mechanical spring-based balancing, the system uses controlled fluid supply to pressurizing chambers and discharge return mechanisms to create pressure differences, enabling piston displacement through pneumatic forces rather than mechanical balancing structures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Reliability

If pressure balancing mechanisms are used to facilitate piston movement, then the pressure boosting function is achieved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure boosting functionVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous useful action through the discharge return mechanism that recycles discharged fluid back to the fluid supply source. This creates a closed-loop system where fluid is continuously circulated and reused, eliminating the need for continuous external fluid supply and reducing energy consumption associated with fluid replenishment and pressure maintenance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system achieves self-service through the discharge return mechanism that automatically returns discharged fluid to the supply source without external intervention. The pressure control system self-regulates by controlling fluid supply and discharge, eliminating the need for external energy-intensive pressure balancing mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If pressure balancing mechanisms (compression springs, grooves) are integrated into the pressure booster, then piston movement is enabled, but fluid consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepiston movement functionVSAvoidfluid consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the discarding and recovering principle through the discharge return mechanism that captures and returns discharged fluid to the fluid supply source. Instead of discarding used fluid, the system recycles it back into the system, significantly reducing fluid consumption and eliminating waste associated with traditional pressure balancing approaches

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

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 design reduces fluid consumption, conserves energy, and simplifies the structure, enabling efficient pressure boosting and prolonging the service life of the device, while also reducing size and weight, making it suitable for automated assembly equipment.

Implementation Method 1

a fluid supplying mechanism adapted to supply a fluid to at least one of the first pressure boosting chamber and the second pressure boosting chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid pressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

a first discharge return mechanism adapted to supply the fluid discharged from the first pressurizing chamber to the second pressurizing chamber, or to supply the fluid discharged from the second pressurizing chamber to the first pressurizing chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow and pressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP3546761B1Pressure booster
Publication Date: 2021.10.06 SMC CORP
  • EP3546761B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3546761B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3546761B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

When a fluid is supplied to a first pressure-boosting chamber (32a) and/or a second pressure-boosting chamber (32b) of a pressure booster (10, 10A, 10B), either a first electromagnetic valve unit (22) supplies a fluid discharged from a first pressurizing chamber (34a) to a second pressurizing chamber (34b), or a second electromagnetic valve unit(26) supplies a fluid discharged from a third pressurizing chamber (36a) to a fourth pressurizing chamber (36b).