Gear Pump Drive Integrated Cooling Circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gear pumps operating at high pressures experience fluid loss and overheating issues due to high rotational speeds, leading to instability and increased complexity with external cooling systems, which are heavy, bulky, and costly, especially in applications like aviation.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a guiding mechanism using diverting grooves and channels to redirect fluid loss into an internal cooling circuit, where it can be reused for heat exchange and lubrication, eliminating the need for external cooling and reducing the pump's size and weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If an external cooling circuit is integrated into the drive system, then the drive cooling problem is resolved, but the assembly becomes more complicated, heavier, and bulkier
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cooling function with the existing hydraulic system by using the working fluid itself as the cooling medium. The cooling circuit is integrated into the drive housing and utilizes the same hydraulic fluid that circulates through the pump, merging the cooling function with the hydraulic system rather than adding a separate external cooling system.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive cooling system uses the working fluid from the hydraulic system itself to cool the drive, making the system self-sufficient. The cooling circuit is powered by the circulation of the hydraulic fluid through the drive housing, eliminating the need for external cooling equipment or additional cooling medium.
2Device complexity
If the working fluid is used for cooling the drive, then the system becomes simpler and lighter, but the cooling effectiveness may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The drive housing is segmented into separate cooling channels that are integrated into the housing structure. These channels are specifically designed to guide the working fluid through areas of high heat generation, such as around the shaft and bearings, ensuring effective cooling without requiring external cooling systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling channels are strategically positioned in the drive housing to provide localized cooling where heat generation is highest. The working fluid is directed through specific areas such as around the shaft, bearings, and other friction-prone components, providing targeted cooling where it is most needed rather than uniform cooling throughout the entire drive.
3Productivity
If high rotational speeds are used to increase productivity, then the pump delivers more fluid, but heat is released and the housing heats up
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling circuit is designed to continuously circulate the working fluid through the drive housing during pump operation. This continuous circulation ensures that heat is constantly removed from the drive components, maintaining effective cooling throughout the high-speed operation without interruption or additional external cooling systems.
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 reduces fluid leakage, enhances efficiency, and maintains operational stability while providing a compact, lightweight, and reliable cooling system, effectively addressing the challenges of fluid loss and overheating in gear pumps.
Implementation Method 1
Waste heat is removed from the drive by an integrated cooling circuit
Implementation Method 2
The inlet of the integrated cooling circuit of the drive opens into the housing through an inlet opening in the flange and is connected to guiding means of the loss flow of the working fluid from at least one gear
Implementation Method 3
Pins of the gears are mounted in sleeves using bearings
Data Source
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AI summary
The present application is a gear pump (1) with a drive (2) with at least one integrated cooling circuit (10) which includes a housing (3) mounted with a drive gear (5) and a driven gear (7), a drive (2) connected with the drive gear (5) by a drive shaft (13) and a means to dissipate the loss flow of the gears (5, 7) to a suction space (4) of the gear pump (1), in which the loss flow of the working fluid is led into the integrated cooling circuit (10) of the drive (2) and is subsequently discharged into the suction space (4).