Spherical Piston Retention in Hydraulic Motors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fluid-column hydraulic motors face challenges in sealingly retaining propulsion members against sliding surfaces, requiring complex and costly constraining means that are difficult to assemble and maintain, especially for non-specialized users.

Innovation Solution

A simplified design using internal springs and spherical contact surfaces between the piston and cover, along with a dual thrusting action mechanism, reduces the number of parts and machining operations, allowing for easy assembly and maintenance, while maintaining stable sealed contact and preventing piston displacement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If complicated constraining means with multiple parts are used to retain the piston against the cover, then the sealing stability is improved, but the device complexity and assembly difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing stabilityVSAvoidconstraining means complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the retaining function and sealing function into a single integrated spherical contact surface between the piston and cover. This eliminates the need for separate constraining means with multiple parts, reducing device complexity while maintaining sealing stability through the unified spherical interface that provides both retention and sealing capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a spherical contact surface between the piston and cover instead of flat or complex geometric surfaces. This spherical interface naturally provides sealing action through its curvature, allowing the piston to be retained against the cover while maintaining reliable sealing contact during operation without requiring additional constraining components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Reliability

If complicated constraining means with multiple parts are used to retain the piston against the cover, then the sealing stability is improved, but the assembly time and production cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing stabilityVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

By combining the retaining and sealing functions into a single spherical contact surface, the patent reduces the number of parts that need to be assembled. This integration eliminates multiple assembly steps and reduces assembly time while maintaining sealing stability, directly improving productivity without sacrificing reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The spherical contact surface is designed as a single integrated feature rather than multiple separate components. This segmentation approach, where one continuous spherical interface performs multiple functions, simplifies the assembly process and reduces production time while ensuring reliable sealing performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If simplified means are used to retain the piston against the cover, then the ease of manufacture and assembly is improved, but the sealing stability may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly easeVSAvoidsealing stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The spherical contact surface provides a simple yet effective sealing mechanism that is easy to manufacture and assemble. The curvature of the spherical surface naturally creates sealing contact between the piston and cover, ensuring reliable sealing stability while maintaining ease of manufacture and assembly without requiring complex constraining means.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The design employs a simple spherical contact surface that can be easily manufactured and assembled, prioritizing ease of manufacture and assembly. This simplified approach maintains sealing stability through the inherent sealing capabilities of the spherical interface, avoiding the need for complex and costly multi-part constraining means.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Ease of manufacture

If simplified means are used to retain the piston against the cover, then the production cost is reduced, but the reliability of sealed contact may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction costVSAvoidsealed contact reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The spherical contact surface provides a cost-effective solution that maintains reliable sealed contact. The curvature of the sphere ensures consistent sealing pressure and contact between the piston and cover throughout the operational cycle, achieving both low production cost and high reliability without requiring complex constraining means.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The simplified spherical contact surface design reduces production costs while maintaining sealed contact reliability. The inherent geometric properties of the spherical interface provide consistent sealing performance without the need for expensive multi-part constraining means, achieving cost reduction without sacrificing reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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 assembly time by 20-35% and simplifies production and maintenance, enabling hydraulic motors with small dimensions and low production costs, suitable for on-site installation and ordinary maintenance operations.

Implementation Method 1

an internal spring (13) arranged between piston (12) and cylinder (11) and able to exert the dual thrusting action

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the sliding surface (4b) of the cover (4) has a convex spherical shape and correspondingly the contact surface (12b) of the piston (12) is shaped as a corresponding concave spherical surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3018345B1Fluid-column hydraulic motor with improved means for retaining the propulsion members against associated sliding surfaces
Publication Date: 2017.06.07 PARKER HANNIFIN MFG SRL
  • EP3018345B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3018345B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Fluid-column hydraulic motor comprising a casing (1), a drive shaft (2) formed integrally with an eccentric cam (3), a plurality of propulsion members (10) each comprising a cylinder (11) and a piston (12) which are coaxial with each other and telescopically movable relative to each other, means for sealingly retaining the ends of the cylinders (11) against the eccentric cam (3) and the ends of the pistons (12) against respective surfaces (4b) of the cover (4), wherein the surface (4b) of the cover (4) has a convex spherical shape, the means for retaining the free end (12a) of the piston (12) against this contact surface (4b) have a radially outer surface (12b) in contact with the sliding-contact surface (4b) of the cover (4) which is shaped in the form of a concave spherical surface (12b) parallel to the convex spherical surface of the sliding-contact surface (4b) of the cover (4) and a radially inner surface (12d) opposite to the radially outer surface (12b), which inner surface has a convex spherical shape parallel to that of the sliding-contact surface (4b) of the cover (4) and the casing (1) of the motor has an annular projection (1a) axially directed towards the inside of the motor and provided with a concave, spherical shaped, upper surface (1d) parallel to the said convex, radially inner, spherical surface (12d) of the corresponding end of the piston (12).