Fluid Pump Flow Impedance Member Reduces Shaft Side Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fuel pumps with electric motors experience high side loading on shafts, leading to material cost increases and noise due to lateral oscillations, which existing technologies attempt to mitigate through expensive materials and tight tolerances.
Innovation Solution
A fuel pump design incorporating a flow impedance member within the fluid passage between the armature and stator generates a pressure gradient, applying a lateral force to the armature, thereby reducing side loading and minimizing noise by allowing less expensive materials and looser tolerances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If expensive materials and tight tolerances are used for shaft and bearings, then side loading resistance and noise reduction are improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the flow impedance function from the traditional bearing support system and places it in the fluid passage. By positioning a flow impedance member in the fluid passage radially adjacent to the armature, the system generates a lateral force on the armature that counteracts side loading on the shaft-bearing interface, reducing the need for expensive high-load-bearing materials and tight tolerances.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow impedance member acts as an intermediary element that mediates between the fluid flow and the armature. It generates a lateral force through fluid pressure differential that opposes the side loading direction, thereby protecting the shaft-bearing interface from high loads without requiring costly materials or precision manufacturing.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If small clearances and tolerances are used between shaft and bearings, then lateral oscillations and noise are minimized, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the reliance on tight clearances and tolerances for noise control by introducing a flow impedance member that actively generates a counteracting lateral force. This force stabilizes the armature position and reduces lateral oscillations without requiring costly small clearances between shaft and bearings.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses fluid pressure differential generated by the flow impedance member to create a lateral force that opposes armature oscillation. By utilizing hydraulic principles in the fluid passage, the system achieves noise and vibration reduction through fluid pressure rather than mechanical clearance control.
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 lateral force applied by the pressure gradient decreases the load on bearings, extending their life and reducing noise, allowing for cost-effective materials and manufacturing processes.
Implementation Method 1
a flow impedance member extending axially in the fluid passage which impedes circumferential flow of the fluid within the fluid passage, thereby generating a pressure gradient circumferentially within the fluid passage which applies a lateral force to the armature
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid pump includes an inlet for introducing fluid into the fluid pump and an outlet for discharging the fluid from the fluid pump. A motor is included having an armature which rotates about an axis. The motor also has a stator which circumferentially surrounds the armature such that a fluid passage is defined radially between the armature and stator through which the fluid flows from the inlet to the outlet. A pumping arrangement is rotated by the armature and pumps the fluid from the inlet to the outlet. A flow impedance member extends axially in the fluid passage which impedes circumferential flow of the fluid within the fluid passage, thereby generating a pressure gradient circumferentially within the fluid passage which applies a lateral force to the armature.