Gear Pump Thrust Force Cancellation via Hydraulic Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gear pumps with meshing helical gears experience thrust force-induced wear and reduced mechanical efficiency due to friction between gear end portions and side plates, which existing solutions fail to adequately address.
Innovation Solution
A gear pump design featuring a casing with a drive gear and driven gear meshing to create high and low-pressure spaces, where the drive and idler shafts are pushed by working fluid pressures to cancel out thrust forces, and adjustable opening closing members regulate fluid communication to prevent excessive pressure application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If pistons are used to push the end portions of the drive shaft and idler shaft to cancel thrust forces, then the thrust forces are cancelled out, but friction between the end portions of the shafts and the pistons causes wearing out and reduction in mechanical efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses hydraulic pressure from the working fluid itself to push the end portions of the drive shaft and idler shaft in opposite directions, canceling thrust forces without mechanical contact. The high-pressure working fluid is introduced into spaces at the end portions of the shafts, creating hydraulic推力 that counteracts the thrust forces generated by gear meshing, thereby eliminating friction and wear associated with mechanical piston-shaft contact.
2Force
If high pressure working fluid is directly applied to the drive shaft and idler shaft end portions, then thrust forces are cancelled, but excessive pushing forces may damage the shafts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediate pressure spaces between the high-pressure working fluid source and the shaft end portions. By creating a pressure gradient through intermediate pressure levels, the system softly regulates the thrust force applied to the shafts, preventing excessive forces that could damage the shafts while still achieving effective thrust cancellation. The opening closing members control fluid communication to maintain appropriate pressure levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses opening closing members as intermediary control elements between the high-pressure working fluid and the shaft end portions. These members regulate fluid communication and pressure transmission, acting as mediators that prevent direct application of excessive high pressure to the shafts while still enabling thrust force cancellation through controlled hydraulic pressure.
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 effectively cancels out thrust forces, reducing friction and wear, and maintains mechanical efficiency by adjusting pressure ratios and preventing excessive pushing forces on the shafts, thus enhancing the gear pump's performance.
Implementation Method 1
The end portion of the drive shaft is pushed in a predetermined direction by working fluid in the drive-side space, and the end portion of the idler shaft is pushed in the predetermined direction by working fluid in the idler-side space
Data Source
AI summary
A gear pump or a gear motor includes a casing, a helical drive gear, a helical driven gear, a drive-side space, and an idler-side space. The drive and driven gears mesh with each other in the casing to partition inside of the casing so as to include high and low pressure spaces. The drive-side and idler-side spaces are each configured to allow pressure therein to become higher than a pressure in the low-pressure space. The drive-side space faces an end portion of a drive shaft rotatably supporting the drive gear. The idler-side space faces an end portion of an idler shaft rotatably supporting the driven gear. The end portion of the drive shaft is pushed in a predetermined direction by working fluid supplied to the drive-side space. The end portion of the idler shaft is pushed in the predetermined direction by working fluid supplied to the idler-side space.