Fluid Pump Separating Disk Composite Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fluid pumps with stainless steel separating disks suffer from material wear and abrasion due to moving parts, which can lead to breakage and leakage, especially in applications like hot/cold water pumps where hygienic and pressure requirements are critical.

Innovation Solution

The cutting disk is designed with two areas of different materials: a hard, abrasion-resistant material like diamond-like carbon (DLC) for high-stress areas and a tougher, ductile material like stainless steel for reduced breakage risk, with a magnetic coupling between the delivery and drive units to ensure fluid-tight separation and power transmission without mechanical contact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a stainless steel separating disk is used, then hygienic requirements are met, but material wear and abrasion occur due to moving parts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehygienic requirementsVSAvoidabrasion resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The separating disk is constructed as a composite material consisting of a stainless steel substrate providing hygienic properties and a diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating providing abrasion resistance. This composite structure allows the disk to simultaneously meet hygienic requirements for drinking water applications while resisting wear from moving parts such as the impeller wheel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies a DLC coating specifically to the areas of the separating disk that are subject to mechanical stress and abrasion from moving parts, while maintaining the stainless steel substrate for hygienic surfaces. This localized application of different material properties optimizes both abrasion resistance and hygienic performance where needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If harder, more abrasion-resistant materials are used, then wear resistance improves, but the risk of breakage increases due to brittleness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveabrasion resistanceVSAvoidrisk of breakage
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The separating disk combines a ductile stainless steel substrate that absorbs tensile and compressive forces with a harder DLC coating that provides abrasion resistance. The stainless steel base material prevents catastrophic failure by deforming plastically under impact loads, while the DLC layer resists wear, thus reducing the overall risk of breakage while maintaining wear resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the material parameters of the separating disk by applying a DLC coating with specific hardness properties (Rc 70-90) onto a stainless steel substrate with different mechanical properties. This parameter modification allows the surface to be highly wear-resistant while the bulk material remains tough and resistant to breakage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 significantly enhances abrasion resistance and reduces the risk of breakage and leakage, ensuring the cutting disk remains stable and functional under mechanical stress, vibrations, and impacts, while maintaining fluid-tight separation and efficient operation.

Implementation Method 1

a magnetic coupling is formed between the delivery unit and the drive unit, with which the delivery unit is driven by the drive unit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic coupling: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentEP3112685B1Fluid pump
Publication Date: 2020.10.28 A & K MULLER GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3112685B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2b

AI summary

The invention relates to a fluid pump (1) with a pumping unit (3) for conveying a fluid and a drive unit (4) for driving the pumping unit (3), wherein the pumping unit (3) and the drive unit (4) are separated from each other in a fluid-tight manner by a separating disk (6) and the separating disk (6) has at least two areas (6.1, 6.2) made of different materials.