Ball Guide Sealing Structure for Aggregate Piston Pumps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional two-ball piston pumps are ineffective for pumping heavy fillers or aggregates due to restricted flow passages and inadequate sealing of ball check valves, leading to packed out material that prevents fluid flow.
Innovation Solution
A pump design featuring a ball guide with seals and posts that provide a sliding-sealing interface, combined with a ball cage and piston configuration, which applies pressure to seat and unseat the ball, preventing material separation and ensuring flow through a venturi effect.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional ball check valves are used in heavily aggregate filled material, then the pump structure is simple, but the valves cannot seal properly leading to material separation and packed out conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The ball check valve is segmented into multiple functional components: a ball element, a cage structure with guide elements, and a novel ball guide mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while working together to achieve reliable sealing in heavily filled materials.
Solution Approach 2:
A ball guide mechanism is introduced as an intermediary element between the ball and the cage. This ball guide mediates the movement and positioning of the ball, ensuring proper alignment and sealing contact with the seat, thereby improving sealing capability without requiring complex valve structures.
2Productivity
If restricted flow passages are used in ball piston pumps, then the pump size is reduced, but flow is restricted causing packed out material that prevents pumping
Solution Approach 1:
The flow passages are designed to utilize multiple dimensions and spatial orientations within the pump structure. By arranging flow paths in three-dimensional space rather than simple linear passages, the pump achieves enhanced flow capability while maintaining a compact overall size.
Solution Approach 2:
Components are nested within each other to maximize space utilization. The ball guide is positioned within the cage structure, and flow passages are routed through available spaces between components, allowing efficient use of pump volume while maintaining adequate flow passages.
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
The design effectively prevents material from packing out and ensures continuous flow by maintaining fluid integrity and preventing separation of water or fluid from aggregates, enhancing the pump's efficiency in handling heavily filled materials.
Implementation Method 1
The one or more seals are configured for providing a sliding-sealing interface along the outer perimeter of the second end of the ball guide
Implementation Method 2
A pressure applied on the ball in a first direction sealingly seats the ball on the seat, thereby inhibiting flow of material across the opening at the second end of the ball guide
Implementation Method 3
combined with a ball cage and piston configuration, which applies pressure to seat and unseat the ball, preventing material separation and ensuring flow through a venturi effect
Data Source
AI summary
A disclosure pertains to a reciprocating pump configured for pumping fillers or aggregates or cementitious material and the like.