Gear Pump With Axial Rotor Mounting for Simpler Assembly

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gear pumps are labor-intensive to assemble, particularly due to complex mounting of gearwheels and rotors.

Innovation Solution

The gear pump features an axial mounting of the rotor using the drive gearwheel, which is limited by the pump housing walls, and the drive gearwheel is either pressed or injection-molded onto the drive shaft, simplifying assembly and allowing for a compact design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If traditional mounting methods are used for gearwheels and rotors, then reliable mounting is achieved, but assembly becomes labor-intensive and complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidmounting complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rotor is merged with the drive gearwheel by injection-moulding the rotor directly onto the drive shaft, creating an integrated component assembly. This eliminates separate mounting operations for the rotor and drive gearwheel, significantly simplifying the assembly process while maintaining reliable mounting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The drive gearwheel serves multiple functions: it transmits torque from the drive shaft, provides axial positioning of the rotor through its axial extent, and acts as a mounting surface for the rotor. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components and assembly steps required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Manufacturing precision

If additional bearing elements are used for axial mounting, then precise positioning is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaxial positioning precisionVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The drive gearwheel itself provides the axial positioning function through its axial extent and engagement with the rotor. The structure serves its own positioning needs without requiring separate bearing elements, thereby maintaining precision while reducing component count and assembly complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Length of moving object

If a compact design is pursued, then reduced length is achieved, but assembly precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepump lengthVSAvoidassembly precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

By integrating the rotor and drive gearwheel into a single assembled unit through injection-moulding, the patent achieves a compact design with reduced overall length. The merged structure inherently provides precise positioning through its geometry, eliminating the need for additional precision adjustment mechanisms that would increase length.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4361397B1Gear pump
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 VALEO POWERTRAIN GMBH
  • EP4361397B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4361397B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4361397B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a gear pump (10) having a pump housing (12), a rotatably mounted drive shaft (22) extending into the pump housing (12), a rotor (24) of a drive motor (20), said rotor being attached in a rotationally fixed manner on the drive shaft (22), at least one drive gearwheel (26) which is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on the drive shaft (22) in the pump housing (12), and at least one gearwheel (38, 40) driven by the drive gearwheel (26), wherein the drive gearwheel (26) is fixed axially on the drive shaft (22), and wherein the drive gearwheel (26) together with the pump housing (12) forms an axial bearing for the rotor (24).