Integrated Motor Scroll Vacuum Pump

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing scroll vacuum pumps require a large amount of space and are costly to manufacture, with limited pump capacity and reliability in operation.

Innovation Solution

A spiral vacuum pump design featuring a fixed stator and orbiting scroll with an integrated electric motor, utilizing multiple orbiting discs arranged at an angle to enhance performance, and incorporating ball bearings for anti-rotation and mass balancing, along with a two-stage pumping system for increased efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If a separate motor is used to drive the orbiting scroll, then the pump can achieve the required orbiting movement, but the installation space requirement increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveorbiting movement capabilityVSAvoidinstallation space
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the motor and orbiting scroll into a single integrated unit where the motor rotor serves as the orbiting scroll. This merging eliminates the need for a separate motor housing and mounting space, directly resolving the space requirement issue while maintaining the orbiting movement function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The motor rotor is designed to serve dual functions: as the rotating component of the motor and as the orbiting scroll that creates vacuum. This multi-functionality eliminates redundant components and reduces the overall device footprint, addressing the space constraint.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Speed

If the motor is arranged between the scroll disks, then the orbiting movement is achieved, but the device length increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveorbiting movementVSAvoiddevice length
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The motor and orbiting scroll are merged into a single integrated structure where the motor rotor IS the orbiting scroll. This eliminates the need for separate motor housing and mounting space, directly resolving the space requirement issue while maintaining the orbiting movement function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Stability of the object's composition

If additional anti-rotation mechanisms are provided, then the orbiting scroll is prevented from rotating, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanti-rotation controlVSAvoidnumber of mechanisms
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shaft with ball bearings inherently prevents rotation of the orbiting scroll through its mechanical design. The ball bearings allow orbital movement while the shaft geometry and bearing arrangement naturally constrain rotational movement, eliminating the need for separate anti-rotation mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent removes the need for additional anti-rotation mechanisms by incorporating the anti-rotation function into the basic shaft and bearing structure. The essential anti-rotation capability is extracted from a separate mechanism and integrated into the fundamental support structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Productivity

If a two-stage design with multiple orbiting discs is implemented, then the pump performance increases significantly, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepump performanceVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pump is divided into multiple stages with separate orbiting discs and stators, where each stage contributes to the overall pump performance. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each stage while achieving high overall productivity through the combined effect of multiple stages working in sequence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 design significantly increases pump performance while reducing space requirements, improving reliability and manufacturing costs, and eliminating the need for additional anti-rotation mechanisms.

Implementation Method 1

The moveable scroll orbits the axis of the drive shaft as the drive shaft rotates. The movable scroll must be prevented from rotating about its own axis.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEccentric drive: Eccentric

Implementation Method 2

The mounting of the at least one orbiting disk by means of the at least two shafts mounted in ball bearings in the stator has the advantage that the two shafts constitute an anti-rotation mechanism without additional anti-rotation mechanisms having to be provided.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBall bearing: Ball Bearing

Implementation Method 3

A spiral vacuum pump consists of two spiral cylinders plugged into each other (Archimedean spirals). One of these spirals is fixed, the other moves via an eccentric drive on a circular path.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectArchimedean spiral: Archimedes Screw

Implementation Method 4

If, according to the invention, a stator is provided and two orbiting disks are arranged on both sides of the stator, mass balancing takes place if the disks are arranged diametrically opposite one another, for example.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMass balancing: Balance

Data Source

PatentEP3045728B1Spiral vacuum pump
Publication Date: 2021.12.01 PFEIFFER VACUUM GMBH
  • EP3045728B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3045728B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP3045728B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A spiral vacuum pump with a stationary first spiral and an orbiting second spiral engaging therein, in which an electric motor is provided for the drive, which is integrated in and/or on at least one orbiting disk and corresponding to the at least one disk in the spiral vacuum pump, which is designed as an electric motor which, in an activated state, causes an orbiting movement of the disk relative to the stator and thus the orbiting movement of the second spiral with respect to the first spiral, and in which the at least one orbiting disk is supported by means of at least one shaft ball-bearing mounted in the stator, or the spiral vacuum pump has at least two pumping stages.