Feed Screw Bearing Assembly for Stable Micro-Volume Fluid Output
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional micro-volume dispense pumps experience excessive radial and axial play due to clearance between the ring collar and spanner nut, leading to inconsistent fluid output and clogging, which is critical in applications requiring precise dispensing control and repeatability.
Innovation Solution
A feed screw assembly with a bearing assembly that includes a tapered roller thrust bearing, a spanner nut with compression to reduce axial play, and a washer element to minimize radial and axial movement, ensuring precise and consistent fluid dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If clearance is provided between the ring collar and spanner nut to allow rotation, then ease of operation is improved, but radial and axial play increases leading to inconsistent fluid output
Solution Approach 1:
A bearing assembly is introduced as an intermediary component between the spanner nut and feed screw. The bearing assembly includes an inner ring coupled to the feed screw shaft and an outer ring that abuts the spannym nut, with a gap between them. This intermediary bearing structure enables smooth rotation of the feed screw while simultaneously constraining radial and axial play, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and manufacturing precision.
2Manufacturing precision
If compression is applied to the spannym nut to reduce axial play, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The compression mechanism is segmented into modular components: a spannym nut with threaded engagement, a bearing assembly with inner and outer rings, and a gap structure. This segmentation allows the compression function to be achieved through the distributed interaction of multiple simple components rather than a single complex mechanism, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining manufacturing precision.
3Manufacturing precision
If a bearing assembly with gap is introduced to reduce radial and axial play, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing assembly is designed to be self-aligning and self-constraining through the gap between the inner and outer rings. The gap allows the bearing to automatically adjust and maintain optimal contact conditions without requiring external adjustment mechanisms or complex control systems. This self-service characteristic achieves radial and axial play reduction while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
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 significantly reduces radial and axial play, resulting in precise and consistent micro-volume fluid dispensing, addressing the issues of inconsistent output and clogging in micro-volume dispense pumps.
Implementation Method 1
a bearing assembly about the feed screw shaft between the spannym nut and the feed screw. The bearing assembly includes an outer ring that directly abuts the spannym nut; and an inner ring that rotates inside and relative to the outer ring
Implementation Method 2
the spannym nut includes an amount of compression between the spannym nut and the bearing assembly to reduce or prevent axial play along a longitudinal axis of the feed screw
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a feed screw assembly for a fluid dispense pump, comprising a feed screw; a feed screw shaft extending from the feed screw; a spanner nut about the feed screw shaft; a bearing assembly about the feed screw shaft between the spanner nut and the feed screw The bearing assembly includes an outer ring that directly abuts the spanner nut; and an inner ring that rotates inside and relative to the outer ring, wherein the inner ring is coupled to the feed screw shaft for rotating the feed screw, and wherein the inner ring is separated from the spanner nut by a gap.