Gear Pump Tool-Free Detachable Drive Unit for Hygiene
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gear pumps used in the food, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries face challenges in meeting high hygiene standards due to the formation of dead spaces where substances can accumulate, leading to germ and mold formation.
Innovation Solution
A gear pump design that allows for easy connection and disconnection of the drive unit and pump unit without tools, featuring a magnetic coupling and a clamping device for secure attachment, ensuring continuous flow through and around components to prevent substance stagnation, and a compact design with dishwasher-safe materials to facilitate cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the pump unit is designed as a detachable module from the drive unit, then ease of cleaning is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump is divided into two separable modules: a drive unit and a pump unit. The pump unit can be detached from the drive unit for easy cleaning in the dishwasher, while the drive unit remains stationary. This segmentation allows the cleaning-friendly feature without requiring complete disassembly of all pump components.
2Ease of operation
If the pump unit can be removed in its entirety without disassembly, then ease of cleaning is improved, but connection complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump is segmented into a drive unit and a pump unit that can be separated as complete assemblies. The pump unit maintains its internal integrity (gears, housing, seals) while being detachable from the drive unit, allowing removal for cleaning without requiring disassembly of the pump unit itself.
Solution Approach 2:
A coupling mechanism serves as an intermediary between the drive unit and pump unit. This coupling allows for tool-free attachment and detachment while maintaining secure connection during operation, enabling the pump unit to be removed in its entirety without compromising connection reliability.
3Reliability
If magnetic coupling is used for contactless drive transmission, then hygiene standards are improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
A magnetic coupling acts as an intermediary between the drive unit and pump unit, transmitting rotational motion without physical contact. This eliminates the need for shafts, seals, or bearings that penetrate the pump housing, thereby preventing potential contamination paths and meeting high hygiene standards.
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 design effectively prevents the formation of germs and mold by ensuring continuous flow, reducing dead spaces, and allows for easy cleaning, thus meeting high hygiene standards in these industries.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic coupling and a clamping device for secure attachment
Data Source
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AI summary
The disclosure relates to a pump, in particular a gear pump, for conveying a processing aid, in particular a liquid product, preferably for use in the food industry, chemical industry and/or pharmaceutical industry, comprising a drive unit (10) with a drive for providing a force and/or a torque for pumping the processing aid and a pump unit (11) in which the processing aid can be pumped, wherein the drive unit (10) and the pump unit (11) are detachably, in particular without tools, connected or connectable to each other.