Separating Piston Positioning Without System Draining
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for setting the initial position of a separating piston in a system cavity require draining the liquid medium, making replacement or repair complex and inconvenient, especially when dealing with variations in pressure due to temperature changes and leakage.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a two-part piston system where the first part is inserted into the liquid medium, and the second part interacts with the first part using an actuating force, confining a volume of liquid that is then forced out through a passage, allowing the piston to move and settle into a final position, with a spring mechanism to maintain pressure and damping characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the separating piston is set using the conventional method with a special tool, then the initial position can be set, but the system must be emptied of liquid medium which makes replacement or repair complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The separating piston is divided into two parts: a first piston part that remains in the cavity and a second piston part that can be independently manipulated. This segmentation allows the second part to be pressed down to force liquid through a passage, enabling position setting without draining the entire system
Solution Approach 2:
A passage is provided in the first piston part that allows liquid medium to flow from the inner part of the cavity to the outer part. This intermediary flow path enables the piston positioning mechanism to work while the system remains filled with liquid, eliminating the need to empty the system
2Reliability
If the separating piston is positioned to compensate for volume changes, then damping characteristics remain consistent, but the setting process becomes complicated requiring special tools and system emptying
Solution Approach 1:
The piston positioning mechanism is designed to be self-operating. By pressing down the second piston part, liquid is forced through the passage, which automatically moves the first piston part to the correct position without requiring external special tools or complex procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes pressure changes created by pressing down the second piston part to force liquid through the passage. This pressure parameter change drives the automatic positioning of the first piston part, simplifying the setting process while ensuring reliable compensation for volume changes
3Ease of repair
If the system is emptied to replace or repair the separating piston, then the piston can be replaced, but the whole system must be emptied which is inconvenient for in-use systems
Solution Approach 1:
The two-part piston design allows the second piston part to be manipulated independently to force liquid through the passage in the first piston part. This enables repair personnel to service the piston without draining the entire system, maintaining the liquid medium in the cavity while performing maintenance
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of emptying the entire system, the invention applies action locally by pressing down only the second piston part to force liquid through the passage. This partial action achieves the necessary piston positioning without the excessive action of complete system emptying
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
Enables the setting of the separating piston's initial position without draining the system, ensuring consistent damping characteristics across temperature variations and leakage, while allowing for easy maintenance and operation within predetermined limits.
Implementation Method 1
the downward-pressing forces cause parts of the second piston to be urged to continue to penetrate into the first part of the piston. As a result of this, all or parts of the confined volume of liquid are forced out into the cavity under the first part of the piston via a passage in this
Implementation Method 2
A spring function, for example a mechanical spring, is finally arranged to act on the separating piston at the upper part of the second part of the piston
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a
Figure 2b
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for arranging a separating piston (18) in a system cavity, where the piston (18) is intended to seal off and separate a liquid medium from a second medium. A first part of a piston (18c) comprised in the separating piston (18) is lowered into the liquid medium in a direction towards the inner part (20) of the cavity, and a second part of a piston (18d) comprised in the separating piston (18) is lowered into the cavity and is caused to interact with the first part of the piston (18c) by the application of an interaction force (Fl) , via an actuating area (18p) located on the second piston (18d) . A volume of liquid (31) is thereby confined between the parts of the piston (18c, 18d) by the said interaction. All or parts of the confined volume of liquid (31) are forced out into the cavity under the first part of the piston (18c) via a passage (33) in this, and the volume of liquid thus forced out acts upon a lower area (18f) which is larger than an area (18h) on which the confined volume of liquid (31) acts upon. As a result of the difference in area, the first part of the piston (18c) is caused to move upwards in relation to the second part of the piston (18d) and to achieve a final position in which it is pressed together with the second piston (18d) to create the separating piston (18) as such. The separating piston (18) is at a distance from the said inner parts of the cavity. A spring function (21) is arranged to act on the separating piston (18) at the upper part (18e) of the second part of the piston (18d) . The invention also relates to a device with a separating piston (18) that can be given a non-critical position in a cavity (system) that is filled with liquid.