V-Shaped Ring Seal for Compact Compressor Piston Inclination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing compact simplified compressor apparatuses face challenges in achieving a sufficient seal effect and high pump efficiency, especially under low temperature conditions, due to the use of conventional ring seals that fail to adequately accommodate the changing gap between the piston and cylinder chamber as the piston inclines.
Innovation Solution
The compressor apparatus employs a ring seal with a V-shaped cross section and inner and outer lip portions, integrated into a peripheral groove on the piston, made of fiber-reinforced plastics, which provides enhanced sealing by maintaining contact with the cylinder chamber even in maximum inclined states, using materials like hydrogenated nitrile rubber for improved elasticity and temperature resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional solid ring seal is used in the piston, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the seal effect is insufficient when the piston is inclined, resulting in low pump efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The ring seal is designed with an asymmetric V-shaped cross-section where one surface is inclined relative to the radial direction. This asymmetric geometry allows the seal to effectively bridge the gap between the piston and cylinder chamber even when the piston is inclined, converting the asymmetric gap into an asymmetric pressure distribution that enhances sealing performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The ring seal parameters are optimized by setting the inclination angle of the V-shaped cross-section within a specific range (5-30 degrees). This parameter optimization ensures that the seal maintains effective contact with the cylinder chamber across various piston inclination angles, achieving reliable sealing without excessive complexity.
2Reliability
If the piston and rod are separately assembled, then manufacturing and assembly are easier, but the structural integrity and seal reliability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The piston and rod are merged into a single integrally formed body made of fiber-reinforced plastics. This integration eliminates the joint between separate components, ensuring continuous structural integrity and preventing seal leakage paths that could occur at connection points, while still allowing for efficient manufacturing through composite molding techniques.
3Ease of operation
If a larger gap is allowed between piston and cylinder chamber to accommodate piston inclination, then the piston can move freely through its full range of motion, but the seal effect deteriorates and pump efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The V-shaped cross-section with its inclined surface creates an asymmetric seal geometry that adapts to the asymmetric gap created by piston inclination. The inclined surface of the seal contacts the cylinder chamber wall at an angle that maintains effective sealing even when the gap varies due to piston angle changes throughout the compression cycle.
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 configuration ensures a secure seal and increased pump efficiency across a wide temperature range, including low temperatures, while maintaining a compact and lightweight design.
Implementation Method 1
made of fiber-reinforced plastics, which provides enhanced sealing by maintaining contact with the cylinder chamber even in maximum inclined states, using materials like hydrogenated nitrile rubber for improved elasticity and temperature resistance
Data Source
AI summary
A compact simplified compressor apparatus is provided with a rotating shaft rotationally driven by a motor, a compact compressor activated by the rotating shaft, an air feeding means for feeding a high-pressure air from the compact compressor to a tire, and a power source plug supplying an electricity to the motor. The compact compressor is provided with a rod attached to the rotating shaft via a crank, a piston having a peripheral groove in an outer peripheral surface and integrally formed with the rod, a cylinder having a cylinder chamber receiving the piston so as to freely reciprocate, and a ring seal sealing between the piston and an inner peripheral surface of the cylinder chamber. The ring seal is provided with a base portion having a base surface seating on a groove wall surface in the rod side of the peripheral groove, and inner and outer lip portions, each extending from the base portion toward radially inside and outside so as to be opened toward the opposite rod side.