Hydraulic Gear Pump Assembly With Force Balance and Internal Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gear pumps experience wear due to high pressure fluid forces and overheating, and existing systems lack integration of the pump with the electronic drive device, leading to separate components and increased complexity.
Innovation Solution
A gear pump assembly integrating the pump with an electric motor and electronic drive device, featuring a pump housing with an arcuate groove for cooling and a crescent seal assembly for force balance, along with a compact configuration sharing components to reduce wear and enhance reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the pump operates at high pressure, then fluid displacement efficiency is improved, but the ring gear experiences increased wear due to radial force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a balance piston that acts as a counterweight mechanism. This piston responds to the radial force generated by high-pressure fluid on the ring gear and applies an equal and opposite force through the balance piston area, thereby counterbalancing the wear-causing radial load on the gear teeth and reducing friction between the ring gear and housing.
2Temperature
If the pump housing is cooled internally, then overheating is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump housing is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously. It acts as both the structural enclosure for the pump components and as a cooling system. The housing includes cooling passages that allow fluid to flow through it, absorbing heat from the pump components. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate cooling structures, thereby reducing overall device complexity while effectively managing temperature.
3Device complexity
If the pump and electronic drive device are integrated, then component sharing and cable elimination are achieved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the hydraulic pump and electronic drive device into a single integrated assembly. The motor is positioned within the pump housing, and the drive shaft is configured to directly drive the pump impeller. This merging eliminates the need for separate mounting structures and inter-connecting cables, reducing the number of interfaces and potential failure points. The integration is achieved through careful design of shared components and precise alignment features that accommodate the combined functionality.
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 integrated assembly reduces wear and overheating by balancing fluid forces and providing internal cooling, while minimizing component separation and enhancing operational efficiency and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a portion of fluid being provided to the second port is provided to the pump housing channel to cool the pump housing
Implementation Method 2
fluid in the arcuate groove applies a radially-inward force on the pump ring gear
Data Source
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AI summary
An example gear pump includes a pump housing having a pump housing channel and an arcuate groove disposed in an interior surface of the pump housing; a pump ring gear disposed within the pump housing and rotatable relative to the pump housing; a pump pinion disposed within the pump ring gear, such that teeth of the pump pinion engage with internal teeth of the pump ring gear; and a pump port block having a first port and a second port, wherein as the pump pinion rotates within the pump ring gear, fluid is drawn through the first port and provided to the second port for discharge, wherein a portion of fluid being provided to the second port is provided to the pump housing channel, wherein fluid from the pump housing channel is provided to the arcuate groove to apply a radially-inward force on the pump ring gear.