Elliptical Impeller Pump Housing Reduces Blade Wear

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Solution Overview

Problem

Impeller pumps experience severe wear and reduced pumping capacity due to the bending of impeller blades, especially when handling dirty liquids with fibrous components, as existing solutions like grids or combs lead to dirt accumulation and hygiene issues.

Innovation Solution

The impeller pump's housing is designed with elliptical inlet and outlet openings, reducing stress on impeller vanes and incorporating a two-part housing for easier assembly and connection to conventional pipelines, along with wire reinforcement to minimize deformation and enhance durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If grids or combs are provided at the inlet or outlet opening to reduce load on impeller lamellae, then the stress on impeller lamellae is reduced, but dirt gets stuck on the grating bars, reducing pumping capacity and causing hygiene concerns

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestress on impeller lamellaeVSAvoidpumping capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful element (grid/comb structure that causes dirt accumulation) is completely removed from the system. Instead of using a grid or comb at the inlet/outlet opening, the patent employs wire reinforcement embedded in the impeller lamellae themselves to provide structural strength, thereby eliminating the source of dirt trapping while still protecting against excessive stress

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The impeller lamellae are constructed as composite structures by embedding wire reinforcement within the elastic material. This composite design provides the necessary mechanical strength to withstand stress without requiring external grids or combs, thus maintaining pumping capacity while reducing load on the lamellae

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If impeller blades are firmly seated against the inner wall of the pump housing to ensure sealing, then self-priming capability is achieved, but severe wear occurs on the impeller blades

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing capabilityVSAvoidservice life of impeller blades
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The impeller lamellae are constructed as composite structures by embedding wire reinforcement within the elastic material. This composite design provides the necessary mechanical strength to withstand stress without requiring external grids or combs, thus maintaining pumping capacity while reducing load on the lamellae

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Strength

If the cross section of inlet/outlet is designed to reduce stress on impeller vanes, then wear is reduced, but connection to conventional pipelines becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestress on impeller vanesVSAvoidconnection to pipelines
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The inlet and outlet openings have different cross-sectional shapes at different locations: at the housing interface, they have an elliptical cross-section optimized for reducing stress on impeller vanes, while at the connection interface, they have a circular cross-section for easy connection to conventional pipelines. This local variation in geometry satisfies both requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 elliptical design minimizes deformation of impeller blades, maintains even flow, and reduces wear, thereby increasing the pump's service life and preventing dirt accumulation, addressing the issues of wear and hygiene concerns.

Implementation Method 1

an impeller wheel with a plurality of elastic impeller lamellae (made of rubber, for example)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the impeller lamellae, when they sweep over the inlet opening or the outlet opening, are pressed both by their elasticity and by centrifugal forces into these openings

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentEP2646691B1Impeller pump
Publication Date: 2015.06.17 FINSTERWALDER UMWELTTECHN
  • EP2646691B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2646691B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2646691B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an impeller pump having a housing with an inlet and with an outlet and having an impeller wheel with a multiplicity of elastic impeller blades. The cross section of the inlet and of the outlet on the side facing towards the housing interior is of elliptical form in order to reduce loads acting on and damage to the impeller blades.