Integrated Pressure Plate and Port Plate for Vane Pumps
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Solution Overview
Problem
The separation of pressure and port plates in vane pumps requires high machining precision and materials like tungsten carbide for effective sealing, leading to increased costs, weight, and potential premature failure due to deflection and wear issues.
Innovation Solution
An integrated pressure and port plate design with a hard coating, such as tungsten carbide, applied to metal pressure plate portions within the pump housing, which eliminates the need for separate components and reduces machining costs by incorporating surface irregularities to manage stress and adhesion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate port plate and pressure plate are used with high flatness machining, then effective sealing is achieved, but machining costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the port plate and pressure plate into a single integrated component, eliminating the interface between two separate plates. This integration removes the need for high-precision flatness machining at the interface while maintaining sealing effectiveness through the integrated structure's inherent geometry and sealed bore design.
2Reliability
If separate port plate and pressure plate are used with tight deflection control, then rubbing against rotor and vanes is prevented, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the port plate and pressure plate into one component, the patent eliminates the interface deflection issues that cause rubbing. The integrated structure provides inherent structural support that prevents excessive deflection under pressure, eliminating the need for tight deflection control specifications.
3Strength
If separate port plate made of tungsten carbide is used, then wear resistance is improved, but overall pump weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite construction where the integrated plate is made of a base material (such as aluminum alloy or steel) providing structural support and low weight, with a hard coating applied to specific surfaces providing wear resistance. This composite approach achieves the wear resistance of tungsten carbide without the excessive weight.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the entire plate from heavy tungsten carbide, the patent applies hard coating only to the specific surfaces requiring wear resistance (such as the vane contact surfaces and sealed bore interior), while the bulk of the component remains lightweight base material.
4Ease of manufacture
If separate port plate and pressure plate are used with bolting, then assembly is possible, but interface sealing reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the port plate and pressure plate into a single monolithic component, completely eliminating the bolted interface. This removes the sealing problems at the interface while maintaining assembly capability through the integrated structure's inherent design. The sealed bores are formed directly in the integrated plate during manufacturing.
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
This design enhances pump reliability, reduces weight, and extends pump life by eliminating interface-related issues and oil seepage, while maintaining effective sealing without the need for bolting and reducing machining costs.
Implementation Method 1
The port plate is preferably constructed of tungsten carbide or a material with similar properties. Tungsten carbide is used due its wear resistance properties to minimize wear and tear from the movement of the rotor and vanes.
Implementation Method 2
The pressure plate portions include surface irregularities to relieve stresses and promote adhesion of the coating to the underlying metal.
Data Source
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AI summary
An integrated pressure plate and port plate, and method of forming same, for a pump includes a housing having a pumping chamber formed therein. The housing includes first and second metal pressure plate portions that form at least a portion of the pumping chamber wherein at least one of the first and second pressure plate portions has a hard coating formed of a different material than a remainder of the housing metal on a surface thereof where integrated ports are formed on surface(s) of the pressure plate portion(s). Surface irregularities relieve stresses and promote adhesion of the coating (e.g., tungsten carbide) to the underlying metal (aluminum alloy).