Dual Bellows Pump Pulsation Suppression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional bellows pumps experience pulsation issues at the discharge side due to the need for additional space and a decrease in discharge amount when using accumulators, either externally mounted or internally incorporated.

Innovation Solution

A bellows pump device with independently expandable/contractable first and second bellows, controlled by a unit that adjusts the expansion/contraction timing to ensure the second bellows contracts before the first bellows come into their most contracted state, reducing pulsation without increasing installation space or decreasing discharge volume.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If an accumulator is mounted at the discharge side of the bellows pump, then pulsation is suppressed, but installation space increases substantially

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepulsation at discharge sideVSAvoidinstallation space

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the accumulator function with the bellows pump structure by incorporating a second bellows that performs complementary expansion/contraction cycles. This integrated approach eliminates the need for a separate external accumulator, suppressing pulsation while maintaining compact installation space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit initiates expansion/contraction of the second bellows in advance of the first bellows cycle. By timing the second bellows to expand before the first contracts and contract before the first expands, the system ensures continuous discharge flow and prevents pressure drops, thereby suppressing pulsation proactively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If an accumulator is incorporated in place of one bellows, then pulsation is suppressed, but discharge amount decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepulsation at discharge sideVSAvoiddischarge amount

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent ensures continuous useful action by coordinating the expansion/contraction cycles of both bellows. The second bellows is controlled to expand before the first contracts and contract before the first expands, creating overlapping discharge phases that maintain continuous flow and prevent interruptions in discharge amount.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses periodic expansion/contraction actions of two bellows with staggered timing. Each bellows operates in alternating phases but with overlapping discharge periods, creating a continuous periodic flow that maintains both pulsation suppression and adequate discharge volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the second bellows is caused to contract before the first bellows comes into the most contracted state, then pulsation is reduced, but control complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepulsation at discharge sideVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit uses detection signals from detection devices that monitor the expansion/contraction states of both bellows. This feedback mechanism allows the control unit to adjust the timing of the second bellows to ensure it contracts before the first bellows reaches its most contracted state, thereby suppressing pulsation through responsive control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 solution effectively reduces pulsation at the discharge side of the bellows pump without increasing installation space or reducing the discharge amount, ensuring efficient fluid handling.

Implementation Method 1

first and second bellows (13, 14) mounted on a pump head (11) so as to be expandable/contractible independently of each other and configured to suck the fluid from a suction passage (34) thereinto by expansion thereof and discharge the fluid therefrom to a discharge passage (35) by contraction thereof

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

check valve configured to permit flow of the fluid in one direction in the suction passage and the discharge passage and block flow of the fluid in another direction in the suction passage and the discharge passage

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS10408207B2Bellows pump device

Publication Date: 2019.09.10 NIPPON PILLAR PACKING CO LTD

AI summary

A bellows pump device includes first and second bellows mounted on a pump head so as to be expandable/contractible independently of each other and configured to suck a fluid from a suction passage thereinto by expansion thereof and discharge the fluid therefrom to a discharge passage by contraction thereof. First and second air cylinder portions are configured to respectively cause the first and second bellows to perform expansion/contraction operation. First and second detection devices are configured to detect expanded/contracted states of the first and second bellows, respectively. A control unit is configured to control drive of the first and second air cylinder portions on the basis of each of detection signals of the first and second detection devices such that, before one bellows comes into a most contracted state, the other bellows is caused to contract from a most expanded state.