Gear Pump Slide Bearing Lubrication Pocket for Particle-Laden Media

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gear pumps face issues with lubrication failure due to foreign particles, particularly when conveying polymer melts with high viscosity or low viscosity and foreign particles, leading to damage or abrasive wear of slide bearings.

Innovation Solution

The gear pump design incorporates a lubrication pocket with radial and axial extensions, connected to a separate lubrication system that supplies a clean, contaminant-free lubricant to the slide bearings, independent of the pumped medium's properties, to prevent foreign particles from entering the lubrication gap.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a slide bearing with filling pockets and bars is used to filter foreign particles, then the protection against large particles is improved, but the risk of blockage by small unmelted polymer particles and the requirement for sufficient lubricant flow remain

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection against large foreign particlesVSAvoidrisk of blockage by small particles

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the lubrication function from the pumped medium by introducing a separate lubricant supply system. The lubricant is supplied through a dedicated groove and bore, separating the lubrication function from the pumped medium flow, thereby preventing small unmelted polymer particles from blocking the lubrication path while maintaining effective lubrication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces a dedicated lubricant as an intermediary substance that is separate from the pumped medium. This lubricant is supplied through a specific groove and bore structure, acting as a mediator that prevents direct contact between foreign particles in the pumped medium and the lubrication gap, thereby eliminating blockage risks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the pumped medium is used for lubrication, then the lubrication function is integrated, but foreign particles and unmelted polymer lumps enter the lubrication gap causing blockages and wear

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveintegration of lubrication functionVSAvoidforeign particles in lubrication gap

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the lubrication system from the pumped medium system by introducing a dedicated lubricant groove and bore structure. This segmentation allows the lubrication function to be performed by a separate lubricant that does not contain foreign particles, while the pumped medium continues to be conveyed through its own separate path.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces a dedicated lubricant as an intermediary that is separate from the pumped medium. This lubricant is supplied through a specific groove and bore structure, acting as a mediator that prevents direct contact between foreign particles in the pumped medium and the lubrication gap, thereby eliminating blockage risks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If low viscosity polymer melt is used, then the pumped medium flows easily, but it cannot form a sufficient lubricating film in the slide bearing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow ease of pumped mediumVSAvoidlubricating film formation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the viscosity parameter of the lubricating substance by using a dedicated lubricant with appropriate viscosity characteristics, separate from the pumped medium. This allows the lubrication film to form effectively even when the pumped medium has low viscosity and cannot form sufficient lubricating film on its own.

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 reduces the risk of lubrication failure and wear, enhancing the gear pump's robustness and reliability in handling viscous and particle-laden media.

Implementation Method 1

A pressure gradient is created between the two latter sides due to the pumped volume flow in the downstream units

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

which are in slide bearings lubricated with the pumped medium

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLubrication: Lubrication

Data Source

PatentUS12385483B2Gear pump with intermeshing gearwheels enclosed by housing with bearing journals arranged on shaft axes

Publication Date: 2025.08.12 MAAG PUMP SYST TEXTRON

AI summary

Gear pump with intermeshing gearwheels enclosed by a housing with bearing journals on shaft axes projecting laterally from the gear wheels mounted in the housing by slide bearings each having a slide bearing length, each having a lubrication pocket with radial expansion. The lubrication pocket is spaced from a gear-side end face of the respective slide bearing by a first distance, having a first bar with a first bar width with axial expansion corresponding to a slide bearing surface. The lubrication pocket is spaced apart by a second distance from the bearing end face opposite the gear end face. A second bar with a second bar width with axial extension corresponds to a slide bearing surface, a bore leads through the slide bearing and communicates with the lubrication pocket at an injection point. The bore is operatively connected to a conveying device for conveying lubricating medium into the lubrication pocket.