Helical Gearbox Pump Reducing Power Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gerotor pumps used in gear boxes for lubrication delivery suffer from high power loss, making them unsuitable for applications where reduced energy consumption is necessary.
Innovation Solution
A pump arrangement featuring a rotational pump member with a helically extending surface that receives lubricant from an inlet port and moves it along helical grooves, increasing pressure through centrifugal force, and a discharge cavity for pressurized lubricant distribution within the gear box housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a conventional gerotor pump is used for lubrication delivery, then the pump can deliver lubricant through the gear box housing, but the power loss is relatively high
Solution Approach 1:
The pump is divided into distinct functional segments: an impeller with radially extending vanes for initial lubricant acceleration, and a stator with helical grooves for pressurization. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently, reducing overall energy loss while maintaining a relatively simple structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The stator incorporates helical (curved) grooves instead of straight channels, and the impeller has radially extending curved vanes. This curvature design creates a progressive pressurization effect as lubricant moves through the helical path, improving energy efficiency compared to straight-line pumping mechanisms.
2Use of energy by moving object
If a gerotor pump is used, then lubrication can be delivered to bearings and components, but energy consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The impeller performs preliminary action by initially accelerating the lubricant radially outward before it enters the helical grooves of the stator. This pre-acceleration reduces the energy required by the stator to pressurize the lubricant, lowering overall energy consumption while ensuring reliable delivery to all lubrication points.
Solution Approach 2:
The helical grooves in the stator create a continuous spiral path for lubricant flow, ensuring uninterrupted pressurization and delivery. This continuous action maintains reliable lubrication to all components while being more energy-efficient than intermittent or reciprocating pumping mechanisms.
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 solution reduces power loss by efficiently pressurizing lubricant, ensuring effective lubrication delivery with lower energy consumption compared to traditional pumps.
Implementation Method 1
The impeller face is arranged to receive lubrication from the inlet port and move the lubricant to the helically disposed pumping surface. As the pump member rotates with the shaft, lubrication moves along the helical grooves or threads on the exterior surface of the pump member.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is directed to a pump arrangement for use in a gear box housing. The interior surface of the gear box housing has a collection wall arranged in the interior surface of the housing. A shaft is rotatably disposed through the gear box housing and has a longitudinal bore extending through the shaft that provides a lubrication delivery arrangement for distributing lubricant through the gear box housing. A pump housing circumscribes the shaft and has a discharge cavity connected to the longitudinal bore. Additionally, the pump housing has an inlet port for receiving lubrication from the collection wall. Contained within the pump housing is a pump member that has an impeller face and helical threaded surface that pressurizes and introduces the lubricant into the lubricant delivery arrangement.