Gear Pump Elastic Disc Capsule Suppresses Trapping Noise

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Solution Overview

Problem

Fluid delivery devices with meshed external gears suffer from high noise and aeration due to the trapping phenomenon, where pressure ripples and cavitation occur due to the meshing of gears, leading to vibration and inefficiency, particularly in quiet environment applications like electric motor vehicles and refrigeration systems.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a fluid-leak-tight backlash and an elastic disc capsule in a closed chamber, which seals off trapped interstices during gear meshing, absorbs or expels fluid to prevent pressure ripples and air bubble generation, creating a pressure buffer zone and reducing teeth bouncing contact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If meshed external gears are used for fluid delivery, then power density and simplicity are improved, but noise and aeration increase due to trapping phenomenon

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower densityVSAvoidnoise and aeration
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A communication passage is introduced as an intermediary channel connecting the trapped interstice to the discharge chamber. This passage allows controlled fluid communication that prevents pressure buildup and trapping phenomenon while maintaining the gear meshing mechanism's power density advantages

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The backlash clearance parameter is optimized to a specific range (0.02-0.05mm) that balances two functions: allowing sufficient fluid communication to prevent trapping while maintaining smooth gear meshing operation. This parameter change resolves the contradiction between power transmission and noise reduction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If large backlash is used for smooth gear meshing, then ease of operation is improved, but pressure transmission between chambers increases causing noise and vibration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesmooth gear meshingVSAvoidpressure pulse and vibration
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The solution applies local quality by creating a localized communication passage at the specific location of the trapped interstice. This localized feature allows fluid communication only where needed, preventing pressure transmission through the general backlash while maintaining smooth meshing operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The communication passage replicates the fluid communication function that would otherwise occur through large backlash, but in a controlled manner. It copies the pressure equalization effect while eliminating the uncontrolled pressure transmission and vibration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Object-affected harmful factors

If backlash is sealed to prevent pressure transmission, then noise and vibration are reduced, but smooth gear meshing operation may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise and vibrationVSAvoidgear meshing operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The backlash clearance is segmented into two functional zones: a sealed zone that prevents pressure transmission and causes trapping, and a communication passage zone that allows controlled fluid flow. This segmentation allows the sealed portion to reduce noise while the passage portion maintains smooth operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Stability of the object's composition

If damping chambers with elastic elements are used to dampen pressure swing, then pressure ripples are reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure stabilityVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The complex damping chamber structure with elastic elements is extracted and replaced by a simple communication passage. The passage extracts only the essential function of pressure equalization while eliminating the complex mechanical damping components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 effectively suppresses pressure pulses, cavitation, and teeth bouncing contact, resulting in a low noise, low vibration, and high efficiency gear pump or motor operation by maintaining pressure balance and preventing fluid leakage.

Implementation Method 1

an elastic disc capsule in a closed chamber, which seals off trapped interstices during gear meshing, absorbs or expels fluid to prevent pressure ripples

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2986854B1A silent gear pump or motor suppressing troubles of trapping fluid
Publication Date: 2020.01.01 LIM NAG BOK
  • EP2986854B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2986854B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2986854B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Fluid delivery devices using a pair of meshed external gears, in spite of no reciprocating component for fluid delivery enabling low rotational vibration, the high noise due to the trapping phenomenon, and the teeth bouncing contact due to undesired large backlash heretofore afforded in the gear manufacturing process, restrict the employments in the industrial field requiring quiet environment such as electric motor vehicles or room services. Accordingly, a gear pump or motor or a gear refrigerating compressor comprising a shaft gear and a driven gear meshed rotatably within a gear chamber formed with a housing and opposite side walls, which delivers fluids from a inlet chamber to a outlet chamber; a backlash of the meshed gears having fluid- leak-tight clearance; a closed chamber provided in a internal portion of at least a side wall; an opening provided on a side wall from which a communication passage extends to a closed chamber; and at least a elastic disc capsule contained in the closed chamber, comprising a pair of concaved elastic disc plate abutted and sealed against each other with gas inside, of which occupying volume varies elastically subject to the fluid pressure therein enabling to absorb or expel the squeezed fluid in the trapped interstice during the trapping period of the interstice, whereby the fluid entrapped in the interstices isolated by the fluid-leak-tight backlash suppressing the pressure transmission inwardly or outwardly, whereof volumetric variation during the trapping period is compensated by the compression or expansion of the elastic disc capsule, suppressing pressure pulse and air bubble generation and eliminating the teeth bouncing contact, achieving a low noise, low vibration and high efficiency gear pump or motor or refrigerating compressor.