Knurled Pillow Block Mounting for Precise Hydraulic Pump Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydraulic pump units face issues with misalignment of pillow blocks due to ventilation openings, leading to reduced positioning accuracy and efficiency, and require additional processing steps that increase the risk of chip formation when using aluminum housings.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic pump unit design featuring a pillow block with a knurled region that is pressed into a blind hole receptacle in the housing, creating a fixed dead space for air compression and chip collection, eliminating the need for ventilation openings and enhancing torque absorption without additional elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a ventilation opening is provided in the blind hole for pressing the pillow block, then air can escape during assembly, but the ventilation opening causes misalignment of the pillow block reducing positioning accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The blind hole is segmented into two functional regions: a first region (recess) for receiving the pillow block with ventilation, and a second region (protrusion) for pressing the pillow block without ventilation. This segmentation allows air to escape during pressing while maintaining positioning accuracy, as the pressing operation occurs in the sealed second region while the first region provides the necessary ventilation path.
2Weight of moving object
If the housing is made from aluminum material, then weight is reduced, but additional processing steps are required increasing chip formation risk
Solution Approach 1:
The pillow block is pre-mounted on the pump before the pump is installed in the housing. This preliminary action allows the pillow block to be positioned and secured without requiring subsequent disassembly or complex processing of the aluminum housing, thereby reducing chip formation risk while maintaining the weight advantages of aluminum material.
3Strength
If a cross pin is used to secure the pillow block against rotation, then torque absorption is enabled, but additional elements are required increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-rotation function previously requiring a separate cross pin is merged into the press-fit connection between the pillow block and the blind hole. The interference fit creates sufficient frictional torque resistance to prevent rotation, eliminating the need for additional anti-rotation elements while maintaining adequate torque absorption capability.
4Volume of stationary object
If the second region has the same length as the first region, then the blind hole is fully utilized, but no dead space is created for chip collection
Solution Approach 1:
The blind hole is segmented into a first region of greater length for receiving the pillow block and a second region of lesser length for pressing. This segmentation creates a dead space (chip space) between the end of the second region and the bottom of the first region, which collects chips generated during pressing and prevents their migration into the pump, while still fully utilizing the blind hole volume for its primary function.
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 ensures precise positioning and efficient operation by absorbing torque, preventing chip migration, and simplifying assembly while reducing the risk of misalignment and chip formation.
Implementation Method 1
the knurl intersects a corresponding counter-structure, for example a serration, and an intimate connection is formed between the receptacle and the pillow block in the region of the knurl. This absorbs the torque generated during operation of the pump and braces it in the first region
Implementation Method 2
a dead space is created in a press-in direction after the pressing-in operation, which is bounded by the base of the blind hole on the one hand and by an end face of the second region on the other hand. the air present when the intimate connection between the knurl and the first region is formed does not need to escape and a ventilation opening can therefore be dispensed with. Thus, the air is compressed in the dead space
Data Source
AI summary
According to the disclosure, a pillow block for a pump is connected to a housing by means of a knurl in order to form a hydraulic pump unit in that the knurl is pressed into a first region of a receptacle for the pillow block. The resulting chips can be received in a chip space which is secured by a projection of the pillow block so that the chips are prevented from moving towards the pump. The hydraulic pump unit is easy to install. The knurl allows the torque of the pump to be absorbed and supported in the housing so that precise operation of the pump is made possible. Furthermore, an anti-turn mechanism for the pillow block is obtained.