Impeller pump
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing impeller pumps require additional pumps for evacuating the pump chamber and efficiently pumping away dirty water, leading to complex constructions and increased space requirements.
Innovation Solution
An impeller pump design featuring a rotatable or bendable auxiliary outlet flap with passive actuating means, such as springs or elastic materials, that automatically opens when no fluid is being pumped, allowing for efficient fluid evacuation without the need for external actuators like electromagnets or electric motors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If an auxiliary pump is added to evacuate the pump chamber and pump dirty water, then the pump chamber can be evacuated and dirty water can be pumped away, but the device complexity increases and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The impeller pump is designed to perform multiple functions: normal fluid pumping through the outlet and pump chamber evacuation through the auxiliary outlet. The same impeller and motor assembly serves both purposes by reversing rotation direction, eliminating the need for separate evacuation pumps and reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The pump system dynamically switches between two operational modes by reversing the impeller's direction of rotation. During normal operation, the impeller pumps fluid through the outlet; during evacuation, the impeller rotates in reverse to pump fluid through the auxiliary outlet, allowing a single pump to adapt to different functional requirements
2Productivity
If an auxiliary pump is added to evacuate the pump chamber, then the pump chamber can be evacuated, but the space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The same pump housing, impeller, and motor assembly are used for both normal pumping and evacuation operations. The auxiliary outlet is integrated into the existing pump chamber structure, allowing the system to evacuate the pump chamber without requiring additional space for separate evacuation components
3Device complexity
If a rotatable auxiliary outlet flap with passive actuating means is used, then the construction is simplified and space requirements are reduced, but the control precision may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary outlet flap is equipped with passive actuating means (such as springs or elastic materials) that automatically open the flap when no fluid is being pumped. The system uses the fluid flow itself and stored elastic energy to control the flap position, eliminating the need for external actuators while maintaining adequate positioning for the evacuation function
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters by reversing the impeller's direction of rotation. This parameter change (rotation direction) automatically triggers the flap to open or close based on the flow conditions, providing sufficient control precision for the evacuation function without requiring complex positioning 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
Simplifies the construction and operation of the impeller pump, reduces space requirements, and enhances efficiency by allowing for maximum fluid flow during reversal of the impeller's direction of rotation, while maintaining a closed position during normal operation to prevent fluid escape.
Implementation Method 1
an auxiliary outlet flap at or for said auxiliary outlet, which auxiliary outlet flap has a closed position and at least one open position and which auxiliary outlet flap is formed so as to be movable, advantageously rotatable, or alternatively bendable, between said two positions
Implementation Method 2
An impeller rotates in the pump chamber, said impeller commonly being driven by a pump motor flange-mounted on or fastened to the pump. The impeller has a direction of rotation for pumping fluid from the inlet to the outlet
Data Source
AI summary
An impeller pump has a pump chamber with an inlet and an outlet, and an impeller in the pump chamber. An auxiliary outlet out of the pump chamber together with an auxiliary outlet flap is provided, the auxiliary outlet flap having a closed position and at least one open position and being rotatable or movable between the positions. In the closed position, the auxiliary outlet flap closes off the auxiliary outlet and, in each of the open positions, the auxiliary outlet flap at least partially opens the auxiliary outlet. The auxiliary outlet flap has an actuator and is subjected to force loading by the actuator, such that the auxiliary outlet flap is moved automatically from the closed position into one of the open positions if the auxiliary outlet flap is free from fluid flow in a direction of rotation of the impeller.