Double-Plate Pump Symmetrical Design for Axial Load Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current high-pressure and high-flow rate drilling operations face limitations with existing pumps due to stress on plates and mechanical connections, leading to potential deformation or breakage, and inefficiencies in power, pressure/flow rate, weight, and service life, particularly in deep drilling applications.
Innovation Solution
A double-barrel, double-plate, and double-intake/discharge pump design where elements are distributed symmetrically along a drive shaft to reduce stress on plates and connections, with interconnected plates and adjustable inclination to balance axial forces, allowing for variable displacement and increased piston count.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the number of pistons is increased to achieve high flow rates, then productivity is improved, but the stress on plates and mechanical connections increases leading to deformation or breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The pump is divided into two separate pumping assemblies, each with its own plate, cylinder block, and pistons. This segmentation distributes the total load across two plates instead of one, reducing the stress on each individual plate and mechanical connection while maintaining high overall flow rate capability through the combined output of both assemblies.
Solution Approach 2:
The two pumping assemblies are combined into a single integrated pump unit with a common drive shaft and synchronized operation. The assemblies work in parallel with coordinated intake and discharge cycles, merging their individual flow contributions to achieve high productivity while each plate bears only a portion of the total load.
2Power
If more pistons are added to increase power output, then power is improved, but the mechanical connections and plates are subjected to higher stresses reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The high-power pump is segmented into two assemblies, each handling a portion of the total power output. This distribution reduces the mechanical stress on individual plates and connections compared to a single assembly with the same total power output, thereby improving reliability and service life while maintaining the required power level.
Solution Approach 2:
The two assemblies are configured to balance each other's mechanical loads. The axial forces and moments generated by one assembly are counterbalanced by the other assembly, reducing net stress on the drive shaft and supporting structures, which enhances reliability without sacrificing power output.
3Device complexity
If a single plate design is used, then device complexity is reduced, but the plate and connections must be oversized to handle all loads increasing weight
Solution Approach 1:
The pump structure is segmented into two assemblies with distributed elements along the drive shaft. This segmentation allows each plate and connection to be sized for its specific load rather than being oversized to handle the total load, reducing overall weight while maintaining structural integrity and avoiding the complexity of a single oversized plate design.
4Weight of moving object
If pistons are arranged in a circle (swashplate pump), then power-to-weight ratio is improved, but friction elements are required increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The pump is segmented into two assemblies that can be configured to balance loads and potentially eliminate or reduce friction elements. By distributing pistons and connections across two assemblies with symmetric arrangement, the design achieves light weight through reduced material usage while managing complexity through modular, repeatable assembly structures.
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 design enhances the pump's reliability, flexibility, and efficiency by balancing axial loads, enabling operation at high pressures and flow rates with reduced risk of deformation and increased piston count, suitable for deep drilling applications.
Implementation Method 1
said plate of each of said two assemblies being inclined with respect to the axis of rotation of said drive shaft, said drive shaft generating a relative rotational motion between said plate and said cylinder block of each of said two assemblies
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a pump (1) comprising two pump assemblies symmetrically arranged relative to a plane perpendicular to the axis of a drive shaft (12), each pump assembly comprising a cylinder (4, 5), a plate (2, 3), an intake pipe (8, 9) and a discharge pipe (10, 11), the plates (2, 3) of each assembly being interconnected at the plane of symmetry.