Dual Input Pump Assembly for Multirotor Aircraft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multirotor aircraft designs face challenges with oil pumps that require additional components and increased cost due to the need for reversing drive rotation in opposite directions, leading to inefficiencies and complex disassembly for orientation changes.
Innovation Solution
A pump assembly that can operate with the same internal rotation direction but in opposite external rotation directions based on installation orientation, using a configuration with interchangeable drive inputs and a housing design that allows for easy orientation change without additional components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an oil pump is designed to be driven in both rotation directions, then the pump can be used on both gearboxes of a multirotor aircraft, but the pump requires complicated disassembly and rearrangement to change the operational rotation direction
Solution Approach 1:
The pump assembly is segmented into modular components including a pump housing, drive input, and pumping mechanism. The drive input can be selectively coupled to different pumping mechanisms or repositioned within the housing, allowing the same pump assembly to accommodate both clockwise and counter-clockwise rotation directions without complete disassembly and rearrangement.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an additional idler gear is incorporated to reverse the drive rotation, then the oil pump can be compatible with the rotation direction of the gearbox, but additional components and cost are added
Solution Approach 1:
The pump assembly is designed with universal adaptability to function with both clockwise and counter-clockwise rotating drive sources. The housing contains a drive input that can be coupled to a pumping mechanism in either orientation, and the pump housing may be rotated relative to the drive source to accommodate different rotation directions, eliminating the need for additional idler gears or reversing mechanisms.
3Loss of energy
If a pump driven in one rotational direction is used, then the pump operates with high efficiency, but the same pump cannot be used on both gearboxes of a multirotor aircraft with opposite rotation directions
Solution Approach 1:
The pump assembly incorporates dynamic adaptability through selectable coupling mechanisms. The drive input can be selectively coupled to different pumping mechanisms or repositioned within the housing based on the rotation direction of the drive source. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the pump to maintain optimal efficiency in either rotation direction while being compatible with both gearboxes of a multirotor aircraft.
Data Source
AI summary
A pump assembly, comprising a pump and housing having an inlet passage and an outlet passage. The pump includes inlet and outlet ports and opposing first and second drive inputs configured to be rotated together in a pumping direction to operate the pump. The pump can be installed in the housing in a first orientation, in which the first drive input is configured for being rotated by a drive source in a first external direction to operate the pump, and a second orientation, in which the second drive input is configured for being rotated by the drive source in a second external direction opposite of the first external direction to operate the pump. In both the first orientation and the second orientation, the inlet port is in fluid communication with the inlet passage and the outlet port is in fluid communication with the outlet passage.