Fluid Pump Housing Joining Flanges for Reliable Full-Penetration Welds

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fluid pump housings in positive displacement pumps face reliability issues due to circuitous circumferential welds, which are common in lighter weight designs, leading to potential leaks and increased manufacturing costs.

Innovation Solution

A new fluid pump housing design featuring joining flanges that extend along a substantial percentage of the circumference, allowing for continuous full penetration welds to create a fluid-tight structure, reducing weld complexity and enhancing reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If lighter weight housing designs are used, then weight is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to circuitous circumferential welds causing leaks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehousing weightVSAvoidhousing reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into multiple sections, each with simplified weld configurations. Instead of using complex circuitous circumferential welds throughout, the housing is segmented into sections that can be joined with simpler weld patterns, reducing leak potential while maintaining lightweight construction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The design inverts the traditional approach by prioritizing weld simplicity over weight reduction. Rather than using circuitous welds to achieve weight savings, the patent uses extended flange lengths with simplified weld paths, accepting increased material usage to eliminate complex welding and improve reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of manufacture

If circuitous circumferential welds are used, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to potential leaks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidhousing reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the cost-reliability tradeoff by accepting higher manufacturing costs for simplified weld configurations. The extended flange lengths and reduced weld complexity lead to better reliability outcomes, proving that investing in simpler welding geometry pays dividends in product performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Device complexity

If joining flanges are extended along a substantial percentage of the circumference, then weld complexity is reduced, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweld complexityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The design inverts the complexity-cost relationship by using extended flange lengths that simplify weld geometry. Although this increases material and manufacturing costs, it dramatically reduces weld complexity and improves reliability, demonstrating that simplifying critical joining operations is worth the investment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS20250215875A1Fluid pump housing section having one or more joining flanges collectively extending along a substantial percentage of a circumference thereof

Publication Date: 2025.07.03 HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC

AI summary

Provided is a fluid pump housing section, a pumping system, and a method for forming a fluid pump housing. The fluid pump housing section, in one aspect, includes a main plate, the main plate having a circumference, as well as a thickness (t) defining a first side edge and a second opposing side edge, and one or more transverse openings located through the thickness (t) of the main plate. The fluid pump housing section, according to this aspect, further includes one or more joining flanges extending from the first side edge of the main plate, the one or more joining flanges collectively extending along at least 60 percent of the circumference.