Stacked Air-Pulse Membrane Structure for High Airflow Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air-pulse generating (APG) devices struggle to simultaneously achieve significantly higher airflow rates and persistent pressure while mitigating adverse effects such as blowback airflow due to pressure differentials and stealth vent phenomena.
Innovation Solution
A stacked-APG device comprising multiple layers of APG units stacked in a synchronized manner, with choreographed membrane movements and virtual valves to optimize airflow and pressure, utilizing synchronized demodulation and modulation driving signals to enhance airflow and pressure generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional single-layer APG devices are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but airflow rate and persistent pressure are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into multiple APG units stacked in series, each unit containing its own membrane and chamber. This segmentation allows each unit to contribute to airflow generation independently, achieving higher cumulative airflow rates and persistent pressure while maintaining modular simplicity in each individual unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-layer planar structure to a multi-layer stacked three-dimensional structure. By stacking APG units along the membrane movement direction, the system exploits the vertical dimension to multiply airflow generation capability without increasing the footprint area, effectively resolving the contradiction between productivity improvement and device complexity.
2Stress or pressure
If high pressure differentials are applied to increase airflow, then persistent pressure improves, but blowback airflow and stealth vent effects increase
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-unit stacked structure segments the pressure generation process into discrete stages. Each APG unit generates pressure incrementally, and the series arrangement allows pressure to build progressively through each stage. This segmentation mitigates blowback airflow by preventing sudden large pressure differentials that would cause stealth vent effects, while still achieving high persistent pressure through cumulative effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The stacked structure performs preliminary pressure generation in earlier units before air reaches later units. This preliminary action establishes a controlled pressure gradient that prevents reverse flow and blowback effects, allowing the system to maintain high persistent pressure without the harmful effects of pressure differential-induced blowback airflow.
3Productivity
If membrane modulation frequency is increased to boost airflow rate, then productivity improves, but pressure stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The multiple APG units are operated with phase-shifted membrane modulation signals, creating a segmented temporal pattern where units activate in sequence rather than simultaneously. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high overall airflow rate through continuous operation while each individual unit operates at stable, controlled frequencies, preventing pressure instability that would occur with single-unit high-frequency operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The stacked APG units employ periodic membrane modulation with controlled phase shifts between units. This periodic action creates a wave-like pressure propagation through the stacked structure, maintaining stable pressure gradients while achieving high cumulative airflow rates. The periodic operation prevents the pressure instability that would result from attempting to drive a single unit at excessively high frequencies.
Data Source
AI summary
A stacked-APG (APG: air-pulse generating) device includes a plurality of APG units stacked with each other. An APG unit comprises a membrane. The membrane is actuated to move in a membrane movement direction. The plurality of APG units is stacked in the membrane movement direction. The stacked-APG is capable of increasing airflow rate and persistent pressure.