Gear Pump Noise Reduction via Barrier Height Transition

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Gear pumps, commonly used in motor vehicles to pump lubricating oil, generate noise due to the mechanical clearances and gear rotation, which leads to sharp pressure pulses and noise emission during fluid displacement.

Innovation Solution

A fluid pump design featuring a housing with a barrier that includes a bridge with a section providing a transition from one height to another, either through a ramp or step, facilitating gradual re-expansion of fluid, thereby minimizing noise by controlling pressure dissipation and fluid flow between the suction and discharge chambers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a bridge with height transition is added to the barrier, then pump noise is reduced through gradual fluid re-expansion, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepump noiseVSAvoidbarrier structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bridge introduces a height dimension transition to the barrier structure, creating a three-dimensional flow path that enables gradual fluid re-expansion. This dimensional change allows the fluid to expand progressively rather than abruptly, reducing pressure pulses and noise while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The bridge acts as an intermediary structure between the high-pressure and low-pressure regions. It mediates the pressure transition by providing a gradual expansion path, preventing direct abrupt pressure equalization that would cause noise and pressure shocks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stress or pressure

If tight mechanical clearances are maintained for high pressure capability, then pressure handling is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure handling capabilityVSAvoidclearance precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Stress or pressureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The barrier structure implements local quality variations, with different heights in different regions. The bridge portion has a gradual height transition that creates localized flow control zones, allowing optimal pressure handling in high-stress areas while reducing precision requirements in transition zones.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS8936445B2Reduced noise fluid pump

Publication Date: 2015.01.20 GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

A fluid pump includes a housing that defines a suction chamber, a discharge chamber, and a barrier having a first height, wherein the barrier is configured to separate the suction chamber from the discharge chamber. The pump also includes meshed first and second gears rotatably disposed in the housing. The gears are configured to draw relatively low-pressure fluid from the suction chamber, transform the relatively low-pressure fluid into relatively high-pressure fluid, and release the relatively high-pressure fluid into the discharge chamber. The barrier includes first and second portions configured to accept the first and second gears respectively, and a bridge connecting the first and second portions. The bridge is disposed proximately to where the gears mesh and is configured to provide a transition from the first height to a second height to thereby generate gradual re-expansion of the fluid away from the bridge.