Dependence of energy-speed characteristics of pneumatic drive on initial parameters of additional volume under counterpressure braking

Introduction. Pneumatic drives are abundantly used for mechanization and automation of technological processes because of the known advantages. But considerable inertia of the output link of the pneumatic drive and compressibility of the operating environment affect the drive performance and a shock-free stop block. This feature has caused existence of a large number of ways of braking of the output link of the pneumatic drive. The counterpressure braking technique is of interest from the point of view of the pressed air energy recuperation under braking into an additional volume. The work objective is to identify the dependence between the initial parameters of the additional volume and energy high-speed characteristics of the pneumatic drive under the counterpressure braking. Materials and Methods. A computing two-factor experiment is planned and conducted. The initial pressure and geometrical volume of the additional volume were accepted as independent factors. The factors varied at three levels. The speed was assessed on transfer time, and power consumption - on the assigned dimensionless criterion. For the description of dependence of factors and criteria, regression equations were worked out and solved. Research Results. Functional and graphic dependences of the energy high-speed characteristics of the pneumatic drive on parameters of the additional volume are received and presented; and their rational values are defined. It is established that: 1. The maximum speed of the pneumatic drive is achieved at the initial parameters of the additional volume: рак=5×105Pa and Vак=42×10-6m3. 2. The following initial settings of the additional volume correspond to minimum energy cost in the pneumatic drive: рак=2 ×105Pa and Vак=210×10-6m3. Discussion and Conclusions. Variation of the initial parameters of the additional volume affects the energy-speed characteristics of the pneumatic drive under the counterpressure braking.