Flangeless Valve Plate Pump with Monolithic Head
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pumps face challenges in assembly complexity, leakage issues due to flanges, piston phase alignment errors, and noise/vibration problems, along with the need for easy port addition and cost-effective design.
Innovation Solution
The design features a boltless cover held by a compressed ring, a flangeless valve plate for reduced leakage, eccentric pistons for precise phase alignment, a monolithic head with integrated ports, and elastomeric tubular members for vibration isolation, along with push-in fittings for easy assembly and sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a boltless cover is used held only by a compressed ring, then assembly is simplified and cost is reduced, but the sealing reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the bolt fastening system from the cover assembly, extracting only the essential retaining function and implementing it through a compressed ring mechanism. This eliminates multiple fasteners and simplifies assembly while maintaining adequate sealing through the ring compression against the housing surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fastening mechanism from rigid bolt connections to a flexible compressed ring system. The ring is compressed between the cover and housing, creating a sealing surface that maintains reliability through elastic deformation rather than mechanical fastening.
2Strength
If flanges are used to secure the head to the housing, then the head is firmly held, but leakage occurs between the valve plate and head
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the flange structure from the valve plate, eliminating the source of leakage. The valve plate is secured without flanges that could interfere with the head flange, allowing for proper sealing surfaces and eliminating the leakage path between the valve plate and head.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the sealing function from the flange structure. By eliminating the flange on the valve plate, the design allows for dedicated sealing surfaces on the head and valve plate interface, improving leakage prevention while maintaining head securing strength through alternative means.
3Ease of manufacture
If set screws are used to secure pistons to the shaft, then the pistons can be assembled, but assembly errors occur in phase alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the set screw mechanism with a keyed interface between the piston and shaft. The key provides positive alignment that ensures the pistons are positioned at the correct phase angle, eliminating the alignment errors that occur with set screws while maintaining ease of assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses asymmetric keyways and keyed interfaces to ensure proper phase alignment. The non-symmetric geometry of the keys and keyways provides a unique alignment position that guarantees the pistons are 180° out of phase, preventing assembly errors.
4Reliability
If separate fasteners are used for the valve plate, then the valve plate can be securely held, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the valve plate securing function into the existing head fastening system. By eliminating separate fasteners for the valve plate and using the head bolts to secure both the head and valve plate simultaneously, the design reduces assembly complexity while maintaining adequate valve plate securing.
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 solution simplifies assembly, reduces leakage, ensures accurate piston phase alignment, and effectively isolates noise and vibration, while allowing for versatile port configurations and easy maintenance at a lower cost.
Implementation Method 1
a compressed ring between the cover and the housing. The hole in the housing has a chamfer that compresses the ring when the cover is inserted into the hole and the ring seats against the hole to hold the cover to the housing
Implementation Method 2
elastomeric tubular members for vibration isolation
Data Source
AI summary
A pump that has a flangeless valve plate, meaning that the valve plate has no flange through which bolts that secure the head to the pump extend. The pump has eccentrics and pistons that all have holes in them so that the pistons at opposite ends of the pump can be assembled to the shaft of the motor 180° out of phase. The pump further has a monolithic head that includes the two head members of the pump and the tube that connects them also has an integrally formed port. The pump is supported by elastomeric tubular members from its ports. The pump has a push-in fitting that can be pushed into a hole in a member such as the head, the housing or the base so that once pushed in, a ring around the fitting expands outwardly behind an edge of the body to trap the fitting in the opening.