Axial Pump Convex Surface Reduces Material Damage

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing axial pump devices cause significant damage to transported materials, such as fish and soft/hard objects, due to high resistance and constrictive bottlenecks, which can lead to injury or death during transport.

Innovation Solution

The axial pump device features a convexly curved contact surface with a radius of curvature greater than 3 mm, oblique to the main transport direction, and a spiral or crescent-shaped impeller blade design, along with a stator holding element that tapers and has a large radius of curvature, minimizing contact points and bottlenecks to gently guide materials.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If contact surfaces are designed as edges to present lowest resistance, then flow engagement is improved, but damage to transported material increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow engagementVSAvoidmaterial damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The contact surface is designed with convex curvature (radius > 3mm) instead of sharp edges, creating a rounded profile that reduces resistance while preventing damage to transported objects like fish and fruits

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Reliability

If conventional pump structures are used, then pump function is achieved, but bottlenecks cause material damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepump functionVSAvoidmaterial damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The stator holding element features a convexly curved contact surface that eliminates bottlenecks and constrictions, allowing smooth passage of transported material without damage while maintaining pump functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The contact surface geometry is changed from conventional flat or edged designs to a specifically curved profile with radius > 3mm, fundamentally altering how material interacts with the pump structure to prevent damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If contact surface is convexly curved with large radius, then material damage is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial damageVSAvoidcontact surface fabrication

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By specifying a minimum radius threshold (>3mm) rather than exact dimensions, the design balances damage reduction with manufacturability, allowing standard fabrication processes to produce the curved surfaces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3014127B1Pump device

Publication Date: 2021.12.22 FRIDECO AG

Figure 1~2a
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a pump device, especially an axial-flow pump device, comprising at least one flow intervention element (22, 32) having at least one flow surface (23, 24, 27, 33) which is designed to split a medium to be conveyed. According to the invention, the flow surface (23, 24, 27, 33) is convexly curved at least with respect to a splitting direction.