Recent Patents on Mechanical Engineering - Volume 14, Issue 1, 2021

Background: It is obvious that the safety concern associated with a vehicle is greatly valued by all, whether it is now or in the future, the automobile safety issue is the hotspot and the focus of the research by experts and scholars. The continuous increase in car ownership brings convenience to people's life and also poses a threat to people's life and property. Vehicles’ active safety system is the hotspot of current research and development, which plays an important role in automobile safety. Firstly, the vehicle’s active safety technology and its development are introduced. Then, a review is carried out examining the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), the Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD/CBC), the Brake Assist System (BAS/EBA/BA), the Traction Control System (TCS/ASR), the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC/ESP/DSC), etc. At present, there are many patents on the control of each subsystem, but few patents on the integrated control for the active safety of vehicles. Objective: The main contents of this paper are as follows: the control strategies and methods of different active safety systems, the strategies to improve the stability of a vehicle control system and ensure the effectiveness of active safety system control. It provides a reference for the development of active safety control technology and patent. Methods: Through the analysis of different control algorithms and control strategies of Anti-lock and braking force distribution systems, it is pointed out that the switching of EBD/ABS coordinated control strategy according to slip rate can make full use of slip rate and road adhesion coefficient to improve the safety of the system. For the BAS, the slip problem is solved through the combination of the Mechanical Assistant Braking System (MABS) and Electronic Braking Assistant (EBA) system by measuring the distance and the speed of the vehicle ahead. The optimal slip rate control is realized by different control algorithms and control strategies of the traction control system. It is pointed out that the adaptive fuzzy neural controller should be used to control the yaw angular velocity and centroid side angle of the Electronic Stability Program (ESP), which has a good effect on maintaining vehicle stability. A sliding mode variable structure controller combined with constant speed control and law control is used to control the yaw moment. Results: Through the coordinated control strategy of EBD/ABS, the slip rate and road adhesion coefficient were fully utilized by switching according to the slip rate. The problem of the sliding slope was solved by MABS with EBA system. The ESP should use an adaptive fuzzy neural controller to control the yaw angular velocity and centroid side angle, and adopt the joint sliding mode variable structure controller which combines the ABS control and the yaw moment control. Through the optimal control theory, the coordinated control of each subsystem can significantly improve driving stability, riding comfort, fuel economy and so on. Conclusion: This study adopts different control strategies and control algorithms for different active safety control systems and makes full use of the tire-road friction coefficient and slip ratio optimal slip ratio. These focus on accurate control of control variables such as yawing angular velocity, centroid side-slip angle, yawing moment and finally ensure the vehicle braking stability, robustness of the controller and the lateral stability of the vehicle.

Background: Flexible fixture is widely used in the diversification processing and personalized processing of parts. The research on the structure and working principle of the flexible fixture is beneficial to improving the clamping efficiency and clamping stability of parts and enhancing the processing efficiency and processing quality of parts. Objective: The aim of this study is to meet the growing demands for the processing of parts with different sizes and different shapes, to observe that the clamping stability and clamping efficiency of the fixture for the processed parts are continuously improved, and then the processing efficiency and the processing quality of parts have been improved continuously. Methods: This paper reviews various representative patents related to the structural device of flexible fixture for parts machining. Results: Through retracing the characteristics of the different structural device of the flexible fixture, the main existing problems in the structure and design principles of flexible fixtures are concluded and analyzed, and the development trend of flexible fixtures in structural design is discussed in the future. Conclusion: The optimization and development of the structural device of the flexible fixture are conducive to improving the processing efficiency and processing quality of the parts machining. More related patents on the flexible fixture for parts machining will be invented.

Background: As a new type of advanced packaging and system integration technology, System- in-Package (SiP) can realize the miniaturization and multi-functionalization of electronic products and is listed as an important direction of development by International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS). Objective: This paper mainly introduces and discusses recent academic research and patents on package structure and packaging materials. Additionally, the trend of development is described. Methods: Firstly, we analyze and summarize the challenges and existing problems in SiP. Then the corresponding solutions are introduced with respect to packaging structure and packaging materials. Finally, the research status of SIP and some patents in these aspects are reviewed. Results: In order to increase the density of internal components, SiP products need to use a stacked structure. The causes of different performance in SiP products are: 1) the stress concentration and bonding quality problems caused by the chip stack structure; 2) the warpage and package thickness problems caused by the package stack; 3) thermal conductivity of materials and thermal mismatch between materials; and 4) dielectric properties and thermomechanical reliability of materials. The following solutions are summarized: 1) structural optimization of chip stacking and packaging stacking; 2) application of new packaging technology; 3) optimization of packaging materials; 4) and improvement of packaging material processing technology. Conclusion: With the study of packaging structure and packaging materials, SiP can meet the requirements of the semiconductor industry and have great future prospects.

Background: Photocuring 3D printing is a highly efficient additive manufacturing technology for machining complex object geometries. Resin container, a core component of photocuring 3D printer, plays a significant role in solving the problems about resin supply, temperature control, peeling method and membrane pressure during the curing process. Thus, the resin container has been paid great attention to optimize the curing process. Objective: To offer some new designs of resin container which contribute to solve problems about resin supply, temperature control, peeling method and membrane pressure. Provide the reader with a new idea that the function of resin containers cannot be ignored during 3d printing. Moreover, stimulate the reader's thoughts about how can designs of resin containers be further improved. Methods: This paper sketches out the strengths and weaknesses of these designs of resin containers with a more critical eye. And show their similarities and differences in a more concise form. Results: The strengths and weaknesses of these designs of resin containers in photocuring 3D printing are summarized. There is no doubt that a suitable resin container contributes to solve the problems about resin supply, temperature control, peeling method and membrane pressure. It helps to stimulate the reader's thoughts on the selection of resin containers for printing optimization. Conclusion: Researchers should pay more attention to the new designs of resin containers which are easy to be ignored but have great significance. Some new resin containers will be invented to solve problems about resin supply, temperature control, peeling method and membrane pressure during the curing process.

Background: In order to study the loading process of shearer spiral drum, the theoretical model of loading process of spiral drum was established based on the kinematic characteristics of coal block in the envelope region of spiral drum. Objective: A spiral drum was designed for MG400/951-WD shearer, and this spiral drum was taken as the research object, the influence of spiral angle of the blade and rotation speed of the spiral drum on the theoretical coal capacity was analyzed. Methods: The intrinsic parameters of coal were calibrated according to the physical and mechanical properties of coal samples in Ordos Wenyu coal mine, a discrete element model of the coupling of the spiral drum and the coal wall was constructed. Results: The velocity and mass distribution of coal particles in the loading process were obtained by numerical simulation. The simulation results show that the loading rate of spiral drum was 65.6%. Through industrial test and theoretical calculation, the coal loading rate of spiral drum under the same conditions was 63% and 68.4%, and the maximum relative error between the results and theoretical calculation was 7.89%. Conclusion: The error between the coal loading rate obtained by the simulation, theoretical calculation and the test was small. It shows that the simulation results can accurately reflect the coal charging process of the spiral drum. In this article, various patents have discussed.

Background: The vehicle fuel injector directly affects the power performance, emission characteristics and economic efficiency of the engine. At present, several testing standards are stipulated on accurate measurement of the working characteristics of fuel injectors. Objective: The purpose of this study is to provide an efficient patent about the method and system for testing the working characteristics of a vehicle fuel injector. Methods: Two key techniques are significant to establish a standard test environment. The patent about the pressure control approach and the injector driving method was proposed. The adaptive fuzzy PID approach was applied to control pressure. An adaptive multi-functional driver was designed and developed for both the voltage-driven and current-driven port fuel injectors. Results: The experiments on the two key technologies were conducted. During the dynamic flow test, the settling time using the system was 1ms. For the static flow test, the settling time was 1 s. The maximum changing rate of pressure fluctuation was 1%. Then, the system was verified by test on the flow characteristics and dynamic response of the voltage-driven and current-driven injectors. The linear deviation of each dynamic flow curve was between ± 3% to ± 6%. Furthermore, the deviation of the dynamic flow curves from the repeated test was small. The maximum deviation of the static flow results was less than 4% and the dynamic response of the injector varied with the change of the pressure. Conclusion: The system meets the requirements of the related standards. The experimental results prove that the system is stable and reliable.

Background: The present study mainly focuses on the development of new Thermal Storage Materials (TSM) and compare the performance for thermal energy storage capacity. Linear Low- Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) based Composite Phase Change Materials (CPCMs) is prepared, and its properties are analyzed using characterization, analytical calculations, and numerical simulation methods. The composites are prepared by blending the functionalized graphene nanoparticles (1, 3 & 5%) with three different concentrations into LLDPE. All three CPCMs show enhanced thermal performance compared to the base material, but it is noticed that higher concentrations of nanoparticles increase the dynamic viscosity and produce an adverse effect on thermal performance. Thermal characterization shows improved latent heat capacity with nanoparticle concentration, analytical and numerical results also compared, which shown a difference of 10 to 25%. Objective: The purpose of this study is the development and evaluation of the thermal storage capacity of different thermal storage materials and enlighten the techniques used for characterizing the storage materials. Methods: Composite material preparation is carried out by using twin-screw extruders, characterization of developed material is done through FTIR, SEM, and DSC analysis. For complete analysis characterization, analytical calculations and numerical simulation methods are used. Results: Linear low-density polyethylene-based composite materials can be successfully developed using a twin-screw extruder. This extrusion provided proper dispersion of nanoparticles into the base material, and it is validated by SEM analysis. DSC analysis confirmed the enhancement in the thermophysical properties of composite materials. Conclusion: The latent heat capacity increased around 20% during the heating cycle and reduced approximately 23% during the cooling cycle for base material and 5% addition of nanoparticle, respectively. The comprehensive study accomplishes that the optimum concentration of nanoparticle provides better thermal performance for thermal energy storage applications.

Background: With more and more blockages in the drainage pipe, recent patents on the design of the pipe cleaning device are also being addressed increasingly. But the current pipe cleaning device has only a single dredging function, and due to the inefficiency of the nozzle head, it cannot be used for cleaning of the seriously blocked pipelines. Objective: In order to solve these problems, a novel pipe cleaning device with self-rotation is proposed and the fluid simulation analysis is adopted for the low-efficiency problem of the nozzle head in this paper. Methods: Firstly, the overall structure of the drainage pipeline cleaning device was designed. Secondly, the size of the nozzle and the nozzle head was determined. Thirdly, the fluid simulation analysis of the nozzle head was carried out to realize the optimal design of the nozzle head. Finally, according to the above design, a prototype was manufactured. Results: This paper presents a novel pipe cleaning device with self-rotation, which is different from current patents. It is divided into the nozzle head system, walking system, cleaning system, threedimensional modeling and assembly of the above three mechanical systems. The simulation results demonstrated that if a deflector is not fixed inside the nozzle head, the pressure of the nozzle head is about 8542751.89Pa, and the flow rate at the outlet of the nozzle head is 354.897m/s. If a deflector is fixed, the corresponding data is 1.32e + 008Pa and 446.336m/s. The result shows that the proposed new nozzle head optimization is effective. Conclusion: The new design solves the problems of the current patents on pipe cleaning device, and solves the key technical problems of inconvenient cleaning of pipe blockage and low efficiency nozzle head under complex working conditions. As a whole, this paper provides new ideas and new methods for the efficient work of pipe cleaning device and the removal of hard dirt on the inner wall of the pipeline.

Background: With the improvement of the properties of plastic products, people gradually realize that the mixing capacity of extruders cannot meet the requirements of fully mixing materials, especially for nano-composites, colored products. In order to improve the mixing level of materials, static mixers are widely used. Researchers developed different types of static mixers to meet the purpose of homogenizing different materials. The mixed materials can achieve different levels of mixing with different types of static mixers, which provided a favorable research condition to study the change of the properties of the mixed materials. Objective: This paper reviews the research progress of different types of static mixers in polymer processing, including the improvement of processing equipment, processing methods and static mixers, and expounds the influence of different types of static mixers and different processing methods on polymers. Methods: The paper reviews various patents and research developments about the structure of different types of static mixers, and the application of static mixers in plastic processing. It also analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of a variety of patented technologies from the aspects of internal structure, micro-morphology, test methods, and equipment cost. Results: Through the application of static mixer in plastic processing, the current and future development trend of static mixer in plastic processing is put forward to improve the quality and properties of composites. Conclusion: Static mixers are widely used to improve the performance of mixtures. In recent years, there are many researches on the application of static mixer to improve the morphology, appearance and mechanical properties of polymer composites, blends as well as foams. The patents and technologies about static mixer provide some good references for improving the properties of multicomponent materials. It is still difficult to improve the properties of some mixtures. In order to further strengthen the properties of composite materials, better methods and equipment about static mixers are needed.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper was to design an intelligent controller of ship motion based on sliding mode control with a Radial Basis Function (RBF) neural network optimized by the genetic algorithm and expansion observer. First, the improved genetic algorithm based on the distributed genetic algorithm with adaptive fitness and adaptive mutation was used to automatically optimize the RBF neural network. Then, with the compensation designed by the RBF neural network, antisaturation control was realized. Additionally, the intelligent control algorithm was introduced by Sliding Mode Control (SMC) with the stability theory. A comparative study of sliding mode control integrated with the RBF neural network and proportional-integral-derivative control combined with the fuzzy optimization model showed that the stabilization time of the intelligent control system was 43.75% faster and the average overshoot was reduced by 52% compared with the previous two attempts. Background: It was known that the Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) control and self-adaptation control cannot really solve the problems of frequent disturbance from external wind and waves, as well as the problems with ship nonlinearity and input saturation. So, the previous ship motion controller should be transformed by advanced intelligent technology, on the basis of referring to the latest relevant patent design methods. Objective: An intelligent controller of ship motion was designed based on optimized Radial Basis Function Neural Network (RBFNN) in the presence of non-linearity, uncertainty, and limited input. Methods: The previous ship motion controller was remodeled based on Sliding Mode Control (SMC) with RBFNN optimized by improved genetic algorithm and expansion observer. The intelligent control algorithm integrated with genetic neural network solved the problem of system model uncertainty, limited control input, and external interference. Distributed genetic with adaptive fitness and adaptive mutation method guaranteed the adequacy of search and the global optimal convergence results, which enhanced the approximation ability of RBFNN. With the compensation designed by the optimized RBFNN, it was realized anti-saturation control. The chattering caused by external disturbance in SMC controller was reduced by the expansion observer. Results: A comparative study with RBFNN-SMC control and fuzzy-PID control, the stabilization time of the intelligent control system was 43.75% faster, the average overshoot was reduced by 52%, compared to the previous two attempts. Conclusion: The intelligent control algorithm succeed in dealing with the problems of nonlinearity, uncertainty, input saturation, and external interference. The intelligent control algorithm can be applied into research and development ship steering system, which would be created a new patent.