Pump Impeller Seal Design Reducing Component Count
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pump designs require multiple seal members to prevent liquid from contacting the main shaft, which complicates the system and reduces reliability, maintainability, and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a sleeve insertion hole with a seal groove and a seal member, along with a seal washer and a shaft sleeve, to effectively seal the gap between the sleeve and the shaft, reducing the number of required seal members to two, thereby enhancing reliability and maintainability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple seal members are arranged to prevent liquid contact with the main shaft, then sealing reliability is improved, but device complexity and maintenance difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sealing functions into a single integrated seal member that is pressed against the main shaft by a spring. This single seal member performs the sealing function that previously required multiple separate seal members, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining sealing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal member is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it seals the gap between the impeller and shaft, prevents liquid contact with the main shaft, and works in conjunction with the spring to provide both sealing and positioning functions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components.
2Reliability
If multiple seal members are used to seal the gap between impeller and shaft, then sealing performance is improved, but ease of repair deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple sealing functions into a single seal member, the patent reduces the number of components that need to be replaced during maintenance. When sealing failure occurs, only one seal member needs to be replaced rather than multiple separate seal members, significantly improving ease of repair.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal member is designed as a removable component that can be easily extracted and replaced without disassembling the entire pump. The spring mechanism allows for simple installation and removal of the seal member, facilitating quick maintenance and repair operations.
3Reliability
If three seal members are arranged to prevent liquid contact, then sealing reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of three separate seal members into a single seal member component. This reduction in component count directly lowers manufacturing costs through reduced material usage, simplified assembly processes, and lower inventory requirements, while maintaining the required sealing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The single seal member is designed to perform the sealing function that previously required three separate components. This multi-functional design reduces manufacturing complexity, lowers production costs, and simplifies the overall manufacturing process while achieving the same sealing reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
The present application relates an impeller and a pump. The impeller includes a shaft insertion hole, a fastening hole having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the shaft insertion hole, and a sleeve insertion hole having a diameter larger than a diameter of the shaft insertion hole.