Extruded Oil Separation Housing for Rotary Vacuum Pumps

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Oil-lubricated rotary vane vacuum pumps face challenges in efficient oil separation and reprocessing, with existing designs being costly and requiring complex maintenance due to the need for multiple sub-processes and separate housing components.

Innovation Solution

The oil separation and reprocessing housing is designed using an extruded aluminum profile with integrally formed chambers, allowing for a compact, dimensionally stable, and visually clean structure with integrated monitoring and maintenance devices, reducing the need for additional surface processing and simplifying maintenance access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If separate housing components are used for oil separation and reprocessing, then functional flexibility is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional flexibilityVSAvoidhousing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple housing components (housing wall, cover, and bottom) into a single integrally formed extruded profile housing. This merging eliminates the need for separate housing components while maintaining all necessary functional chambers (separation chamber, storage chamber, and return chamber) within the unified extruded structure, thereby reducing assembly complexity and manufacturing cost while preserving functional flexibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Productivity

If multiple sub-processes are implemented for oil treatment, then oil separation efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoil separation efficiencyVSAvoidprocess complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the oil treatment process into three distinct functional chambers within the housing: a separation chamber for initial oil-gas separation, a storage chamber for collecting separated oil, and a return chamber for filtered oil return. This segmentation allows multiple sub-processes to occur simultaneously in dedicated spaces, improving overall separation efficiency while organizing complexity into manageable functional units

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If integrally formed extruded profile housing is used, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but functional integration must be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidfunctional integration
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The extruded profile housing serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the structural housing wall, forms the separation chamber, creates the storage chamber, and establishes the return chamber. This multi-functionality is achieved through the integral extruded design that incorporates internal chamber formations, eliminating the need for separate components and reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining all necessary functional integrations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 efficiency of oil separation and reprocessing while reducing production costs and maintenance complexity, improving the overall performance and usability of the vacuum pump.

Implementation Method 1

A coarse separation of large oil drops can be provided by a corresponding filter element, as well as alternatively or in combination with gravity and/or impact separation by redirecting the gas-oil mixture

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

A coarse separation of large oil drops can be provided by a corresponding filter element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 3

gravity and/or impact separation by redirecting the gas-oil mixture

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImpact separation: Impact Force

Data Source

PatentEP3298241B1Oil-lubricated slide vane rotary vacuum pump with oil separating and reconditioning device
Publication Date: 2021.11.10 GEBR BECKER GMBH
  • EP3298241B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3298241B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3298241B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The disclosure relates to an oil-lubricated slide vane rotary vacuum pump (1) with a slide vane unit (2), and with an oil separating and reconditioning device (3), wherein in the latter oil and gas are separated by separating devices, possibly complemented by oil coolers and/or oil pumps, wherein for said devices one or more monitoring and/or servicing devices (37) are provided, and the oil separating and reconditioning device (3) is installed in an oil separating and reconditioning housing (13), wherein side walls (14, 15) extend transversely to a plane of rotation of a slide vane rotor (6), and define a longitudinal extent of the oil separating and reconditioning housing (13). In order to further improve a slide vane rotary vacuum pump of the type in question in terms of handling and/or maintenance and/or production, it is proposed that the one or more monitoring and/or servicing devices (37) are arranged only in one or more cover parts (A, B, C) which are attached to one or both end walls (18, 19) of the oil separating and reconditioning housing (13), and moreover that the oil separating and reconditioning housing (13) is formed with the side walls (14, 15), the bottom wall (16) and the top wall (17) without being configured for a monitoring and/or servicing device (37).