Reciprocating Lance Pump Ram for Viscous Grease Output
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lance pumps, such as the Flow Master®, face challenges in efficiently pumping stiff greases due to limitations in output when used with viscous lubricants.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a motor-driven mechanism that reciprocates a pump tube with an inlet check valve and a ram structure, creating an expansible and contractible chamber to enhance the pumping of lubricants, particularly greases, by ensuring efficient entry and delivery through a combination of downstroke and upstroke movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional lance pump is used to pump stiff greases, then the pump can handle viscous lubricants, but the output is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The pump chamber is divided into multiple sections by the reciprocating tube, creating distinct expansion and compression zones that enable more efficient displacement of viscous grease material through segmented action rather than a single continuous chamber
Solution Approach 2:
The tube is made reciprocating rather than stationary, dynamically changing the chamber volumes during operation to create expansion and compression cycles that enhance the pumping of stiff grease material by alternating between drawing in and forcing out the viscous lubricant
2Productivity
If the pump operates at high speeds, then productivity increases, but handling heavy viscous greases becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The reciprocating tube creates periodic expansion and compression cycles that alternate between drawing in viscous grease during expansion strokes and forcing it out during compression strokes, enabling the pump to maintain high speeds while reliably handling heavy viscous materials through rhythmic cyclic action
Solution Approach 2:
The chamber volume parameters are dynamically changed through the reciprocating tube motion, expanding to draw in grease and compressing to force it out, allowing the pump to adapt to high-speed operation while maintaining effectiveness with viscous materials by varying chamber dimensions cyclically
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 configuration allows for reliable operation at high speeds, effectively handling heavy viscous greases even at low temperatures, with a significant increase in output capacity and reduced pressure drop, ensuring efficient pumping of lubricants.
Implementation Method 1
The inlet check valve opens on a downstroke of the tube for entry of the pumpable product to the lower end chamber
Implementation Method 2
A ram at a lower end of the lance structure is positioned for forcing lubricant up into the tube past the inlet check valve on a downstroke of the tube
Implementation Method 3
The tube also has a second passage with a check valve therein adapted to open on each upstroke of the tube with the inlet check valve closed for delivery of pumpable product from the lower end chamber to the elongate annular pump chamber
Data Source
AI summary
An improved lance pump is disclosed for pumping a pumpable product, particularly lubricant including grease, from a lubricant supply. The pump comprises a head for placement above the supply, a tubular lance structure affixed to the head and extending down into the supply, and a pump tube inside the lance structure that is reciprocated up and down for pumping lubricant from the supply on both upstrokes and downstrokes of the tube. A ram at a lower end of the lance structure is positioned for forcing lubricant up into the tube and past an inlet check valve on a downstroke of the tube.