Dual Pump Proportioner with Adjustable Motor Position
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dual-component fluid proportioners face challenges in balancing forces when dispensing components in ratios other than 1:1, leading to side loading, wear, and leakage, requiring additional components that increase complexity, weight, and cost.
Innovation Solution
A dual pump fluid proportioner with an adjustable motor position, where the air motor can be shifted laterally to balance forces by adjusting its position relative to the pumps using tie rods and a mounting plate, allowing for equal moment arms regardless of pump displacement ratios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the motor is positioned halfway between two pumps with unequal displacement, then the system can be designed simply, but side loading occurs causing binding, wear and leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The motor is positioned asymmetrically relative to the two pumps, specifically offset towards the pump with smaller displacement. This asymmetric positioning creates unequal moment arms that compensate for the unequal pump displacements, balancing the lateral forces acting on the motor. The asymmetry in motor position directly addresses the asymmetry in pump displacement ratios, preventing side loading while maintaining a simple two-pump design without requiring additional balancing components.
2Force
If three pumps are used to deliver two components with unequal ratio, then force balance is achieved, but the system weight and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the unnecessary third pump from the system. By using only two pumps with unequal displacement ratios and positioning the motor asymmetrically, the force balancing function that previously required a third pump is achieved through the asymmetric moment arms. This removal of the redundant pump directly reduces system weight, size, and component count while maintaining force balance.
Solution Approach 2:
The motor positioning mechanism serves multiple functions: it transmits power to both pumps simultaneously and acts as a force balancing mechanism. The asymmetric motor position creates different moment arms that naturally balance the unequal forces from pumps with different displacements. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate force balancing components, reducing overall system weight and complexity.
3Reliability
If three pumps and additional components are used to achieve force balance, then operating reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The motor mounting structure merges the power transmission function with the force balancing function into a single integrated system. The motor is mounted on a rigid structure that directly couples it to both pumps, and the asymmetric positioning simultaneously achieves both power delivery and force balance. This merging eliminates the need for separate force balancing mechanisms, pressure gauges, and control systems, reducing device complexity while maintaining operating reliability through proper force distribution.
Data Source
AI summary
A dual pump fluid proportioner having an adjustable motor position comprises a mounting plate, first and second positive displacement pumps, first and second tie rods, a pump yoke and a motor. The first and second tie rods fixedly connect the first and second pumps to the mounting plate. The first and second pumps each have a pump shaft. The pump yoke slidably couples to the first and second tie rods and the pump shafts. The motor adjustably couples to the mounting plate and includes a drive shaft. The drive shaft extends from the motor, through the mounting plate to adjustably couple to the yoke.