Alternating Pump Inter-Piston Spring Arrangement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing alternating pumps face challenges with harmonic motion limitations, complex assembly due to precompressed return springs, increased radial size, and high costs associated with high rigidity springs, which complicate operation and increase expenses.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates multiple heads with pistons and membranes that utilize a thrust cam and return springs placed between adjacent pistons to allow for various motion laws, simplified assembly, reduced radial size, and cost-effective operation by using return springs to maintain piston contact with the thrust cam, enabling flexible motion and efficient fluid pumping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If return springs are mounted coaxially on guide jackets to maintain piston contact with thrust cam, then reliable operation is ensured, but assembly complexity increases and radial size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The return springs are repositioned from a coaxial arrangement on the guide jackets to an inter-piston arrangement located in the radial space between adjacent pistons. This dimensional relocation eliminates the need for precompression during assembly and reduces the overall radial envelope of the pump mechanism.
2Reliability
If precompressed return springs are used to maintain piston contact with thrust cam, then reliable operation is ensured, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The return springs are repositioned from a coaxial arrangement on the guide jackets to an inter-piston arrangement located in the radial space between adjacent pistons. This dimensional relocation eliminates the need for precompression during assembly and reduces the overall radial envelope of the pump mechanism.
3Productivity
If multiple heads are mounted on same casing to process large flows, then productivity increases, but discontinuities in fluid dispensing persist
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple pumping heads are mounted on the same casing and driven by a common crankshaft with synchronously rotating thrust cams. This merging of heads with synchronized operation allows continuous fluid dispensing while maintaining high productivity, as one head can be delivering fluid while another is suctioning.
4Device complexity
If connecting rod-crank mechanism with circular cam is used to actuate pistons, then simple structure is achieved, but motion law is limited to harmonic motion only
Solution Approach 1:
The thrust cams are designed with variable profiles that can be customized to generate different motion laws (uniform, accelerated, decelerated) for the pistons. This dynamic design allows the same simple crankshaft-cam mechanism to adapt to various pumping requirements without changing the fundamental actuation structure.
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 allows for quick assembly, reduced size, and cost-effectiveness while ensuring reliable operation with flexible motion laws, enhancing the efficiency and affordability of alternating pumps for large fluid flow applications.
Implementation Method 1
return springs placed between adjacent pistons to allow for various motion laws, simplified assembly, reduced radial size, and cost-effective operation by using return springs to maintain piston contact with the thrust cam
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Alternating pump (1), comprising a casing (2) provided with at least three guide jackets (23), each of which defining a corresponding guide seat (3) extended along a corresponding radial direction (X), at least three heads (4), each of which mounted on the casing (2) at a respective guide seat (3) and defining a pumping chamber (5), and at least three membranes (6), each of which delimiting a pumping chamber (5). In addition, the alternating pump (1) comprises actuation means (7), housed within the casing (2) and comprising at least three pistons (8), each of which carrying, fixed thereto, a corresponding membrane (6) and is susceptible of sliding in a guided manner in a corresponding guide seat (3) between a release position, in which the corresponding membrane (6) expands the volume of the pumping chamber (5) and a compression position, in which the membrane (6) reduces the volume of the pumping chamber (5), and a drive shaft (9) carrying, fixed thereto, at least one thrust cam (10), which abuts against each piston (8) and is actuatable to rotate around a rotation axis (Y) thereof in order to move it from the release position to the compression position. In addition, the actuation means (7) comprise at least three return springs (11), each of which placed to connect between two adjacent pistons (8) in order to move each piston (8) from the compression position to the release position.