Integrated Pump Unit with Common Shaft for Reliable Vacuum Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pump units for calibration tools in extrusion systems are complex, costly, and prone to mechanical failures due to the use of multiple pumps and intricate control systems, with issues related to mechanical floats and vacuum setting complexity.
Innovation Solution
A compact pump unit with a single drive motor integrating both the vacuum and feed pumps within a separator, where the vacuum pump generates negative pressure and the feed pump acts as a liquid centrifuge, allowing efficient separation and discharge of liquid even when the suction opening is partially covered, eliminating the need for separate pumps and complex control systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanical float arrangement with actuating device and movable closure body is used to control fluid outlet opening and closing, then liquid medium discharge is ensured, but the device becomes complex and prone to mechanical failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the mechanical float arrangement, actuating device, and movable closure body from the system. Instead, a simple valve body with opening and closing means is used to control the fluid outlet, eliminating complex mechanical components while maintaining the ability to discharge liquid medium effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a vacuum sensor to automatically detect vacuum degree and control the valve body's opening/closing state without mechanical floats. The control means responds to vacuum conditions autonomously, eliminating the need for mechanical level detection components.
2Ease of operation
If numerous throttle valves are arranged in vacuum lines between cyclone separator and calibration tool for vacuum setting, then vacuum control is achieved, but the device becomes complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes numerous throttle valves from the vacuum lines. Instead, a single valve body with opening and closing means controlled by vacuum sensor feedback provides vacuum control, dramatically reducing the number of components while maintaining control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum sensor provides feedback on the vacuum degree to the control means, which automatically adjusts the valve body's opening state. This closed-loop control replaces the need for multiple manually adjusted throttle valves, simplifying the system while improving ease of operation.
3Productivity
If centrifugal pump and auxiliary vacuum pump are arranged on same drive shaft with separate pumps for liquid and gas, then liquid and gas can be pumped simultaneously, but the pump unit becomes complex and occupies more space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the centrifugal pump and vacuum pump into a single integrated pump unit with a common drive shaft. The pump chamber serves dual functions: as a centrifugal pump chamber for liquid pumping and as a vacuum pump chamber for gas pumping, eliminating the need for separate pumps while maintaining simultaneous liquid and gas pumping capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The single pump unit performs multiple functions: the pump chamber acts as both a centrifugal pump chamber and a vacuum pump chamber. The impeller serves dual purposes, creating centrifugal force for liquid pumping while also generating vacuum for gas pumping, making the system more compact and less complex.
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 results in a more cost-effective, compact, and reliable pump unit capable of efficient liquid-gas separation, reducing the risk of mechanical failures and simplifying vacuum control, while maintaining effective operation across varying liquid levels.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum pump (19) integrated into the separator (11) for generating a negative pressure in the separator (11)
Implementation Method 2
a feed pump (21) integrated into the separator (11) for pumping the liquid (21) collected in the separator (11), with a suction opening that can be partially covered with liquid, and an impeller (20) which can be designed to function as a liquid centrifuge
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a pump unit (10), comprising: a separator (11), which comprises at least one fluid inlet (12, 12a) for a fluid mixture, which comprises liquid and gaseous media, at least one liquid outlet (13), and at least one gas outlet (14); a vacuum pump (19) integrated into the separator (11) for producing a vacuum in the separator (11), which vacuum pump communicates with the fluid inlet (12, 12a) and the gas outlet (14), wherein a pressure opening of the vacuum pump (19) forms the gas outlet (14) of the separator (11); a conveying pump (21) integrated into the separator (11) for suctioning the fluid collected in the separator (11), wherein a pressure opening of the conveying pump (21) forms the liquid outlet (13) of the separator (11), wherein the pump unit is characterized in that the vacuum pump (19) and the conveying pump (21) are arranged on a common motor shaft (17) of a drive motor (15).