Hydraulically Driven Bellows Pump for Difficult Fluids
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional positive displacement pumps for difficult-to-pump materials face issues such as frictional wear, mechanical complexity, high maintenance needs, and inability to handle a wide variety of liquids without frequent component changes, along with operational noise and vibrational issues, making them unsuitable for efficient and flexible use in oilfields and offshore platforms.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulically driven diaphragm pumping machine with side-by-side pump and hydraulic drive cylinders, featuring a single bellows per pump cylinder, reduced mechanical parts, and a separate hydraulic drive system that allows for modular pressure and volume adjustments, enabling smooth operation and protection against fluid contamination without electronic controls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional displacement organs (pistons, plungers, peristaltic hoses) are used, then pumping function is achieved, but frictional wear occurs and mechanical complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical displacement organs (pistons, plungers, peristaltic hoses) with a hydraulically actuated diaphragm system. The diaphragm is driven by hydraulic pressure from a separate hydraulic cylinder, eliminating direct mechanical contact between the drive mechanism and the pumped fluid. This substitution reduces frictional wear, eliminates the need for complex mechanical linkages, and improves reliability while maintaining the pumping function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a hydraulic drive system where a hydraulic cylinder generates pressure to actuate the diaphragm. The hydraulic fluid is contained in a separate chamber, isolated from the pumped fluid by the diaphragm. This hydraulic actuation mechanism provides smooth, wear-free operation and simplifies the mechanical structure compared to conventional piston-driven systems.
2Device complexity
If drive mechanism is directly connected to displacement organ, then control is simplified, but drive becomes exposed to pumped material causing contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a diaphragm as an intermediary barrier between the hydraulic drive system and the pumped fluid. The diaphragm transmits hydraulic pressure to drive the pumping action while maintaining complete isolation between the hydraulic fluid and the pumped material. This prevents contamination of the pumped fluid while preserving the simplicity of hydraulic control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the system into two separate, isolated chambers: a hydraulic drive chamber containing the hydraulic cylinder and fluid, and a pumping chamber containing the diaphragm and pumped fluid. The diaphragm forms the boundary between these chambers. This segmentation allows the drive mechanism to be simplified while protecting the pumped fluid from contamination through the isolation barrier.
3Productivity
If multiple moving parts are used, then pumping action is achieved, but friction, heat and wear increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces multiple mechanical moving parts with a single diaphragm actuated by hydraulic pressure. The hydraulic system provides the pumping action through fluid pressure rather than mechanical linkages, eliminating friction between moving mechanical components and reducing heat generation. The diaphragm moves without mechanical contact, significantly reducing wear and energy loss.
4Productivity
If conventional pump design is used, then pumping capability is achieved, but weight and size increase making transportation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heavy mechanical components (crankshafts, connecting rods, multiple pistons) from conventional pump designs and replaces them with a lightweight hydraulic-diaphragm system. The hydraulic cylinder and diaphragm assembly significantly reduces the overall weight and size of the pump while maintaining pumping capability, making it suitable for portable and offshore applications.
5Productivity
If high operating speed is used, then productivity is improved, but friction, heat and wear increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses hydraulic actuation to drive the diaphragm at high speeds without the friction and wear associated with mechanical linkages. The hydraulic system can respond rapidly to pressure changes, enabling high operating speeds and increased productivity. The lack of mechanical contact between moving parts eliminates the friction and heat generation that would normally limit high-speed operation.
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 provides a reliable, low-maintenance, and versatile pumping system capable of handling various liquids with reduced friction and noise, allowing for long service intervals, easy transportation, and efficient operation from zero bar pressure without a booster pump, while maintaining continuous flow and pressure control.
Implementation Method 1
The bellows of the pump cylinder is arranged to be driven by the hydraulic fluid supplied at its top end, in concertina like expansion and contraction to pump the fluid to be pumped
Implementation Method 2
a bellows closed at its lower end and open at its upper end for communication with hydraulic fluid... in concertina like expansion and contraction
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulically driven diaphragm pumping machine (“pump”), in particular for water and difficult-to-pump materials, comprises at least two side-by-side pumping units. Each pumping unit comprises a hydraulically-driven pump cylinder (1,2) and a separate non-pump hydraulic drive cylinder (9,10). The pump cylinder (1,2) has a lower first end with a first inlet and outlet for fluid to be pumped and an upper second end with a second inlet and outlet for hydraulic fluid. The pump cylinder (1,2) contains a bellows (3,4) closed at its lower end and open at its upper end for communication with hydraulic fluid. The outside of the bellows (3,4) defines a space for fluid to be pumped. The bellows (3,4) of the pump cylinder (1,2) is arranged to be driven by hydraulic fluid supplied at its top end, in concertina like expansion and contraction to pump the fluid to be pumped adjacent the lower first end of the pump cylinder (1,2). The hydraulic drive cylinder (9,10) is placed side-by-side the pump cylinder (1,2). The hydraulic drive cylinder (9,10) has a lower first end associated with a hydraulic drive an upper second end containing hydraulic fluid communicating with the upper second end of the pump cylinder (1,2). The hydraulic drive terminates at its upper end with a drive piston (19,20) slidably mounted in the hydraulic drive cylinder (9,10). The hydraulic drives of the hydraulic drive cylinders (9,10) of the two pumping units are connected by a hydro-mechanical connection (25,27) designed to control drive of the hydraulic fluid to advance and retract the pistons (19,20) of each hydraulic drive cylinder (9,10).