Liquid Ring Pump Shaft Maintenance Using Fixing Member Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional maintenance and repair procedures for liquid ring pumps require suspending the pump vertically to avoid shaft bending, which is costly and risky due to the likelihood of component damage and personnel safety concerns.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for decoupling liquid ring pump components while the shaft is oriented horizontally, using fixing members to secure the shaft and allow for inspection, cleaning, or replacement without rotating the pump, thereby preventing unwanted shaft bending and reducing the risk of component damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the liquid ring pump is suspended vertically and rotated 90° for maintenance, then shaft bending is avoided, but the cost increases due to large and costly lifting equipment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshaft bending preventionVSAvoidlifting and rotating equipment

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A shaft support device is introduced as an intermediary element to support the shaft during maintenance operations. This support device prevents shaft bending by providing temporary structural assistance, allowing maintenance to be performed with the pump in its original horizontal installation position, thereby eliminating the need for costly vertical suspension and rotation equipment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of rotating the pump vertically to prevent shaft bending, the invention inverts the approach by keeping the pump in its horizontal installation position and using a support device to prevent shaft bending. This reversal of the conventional maintenance approach eliminates the need for complex lifting and rotating equipment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the liquid ring pump is suspended vertically for maintenance, then shaft bending is avoided, but the risk of component damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshaft bending preventionVSAvoidcomponent damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention reverses the conventional maintenance approach by keeping the pump in its stable horizontal installation position rather than rotating it vertically. This prevents the instability and component damage risks associated with vertical suspension while still addressing shaft bending through the use of a support device

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the liquid ring pump is rotated vertically for maintenance, then shaft bending is avoided, but personnel safety concerns increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshaft bending preventionVSAvoidpersonnel safety risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention inverts the conventional maintenance procedure by maintaining the pump in its horizontal installation position rather than rotating it vertically. This eliminates the personnel safety hazards associated with working at height and with suspended heavy equipment, while shaft bending prevention is achieved through the support device

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The shaft support device serves as an intermediary that enables maintenance in the safe horizontal position by preventing shaft bending, thereby eliminating the need for personnel to work with the pump suspended vertically

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Device complexity

If the liquid ring pump remains in horizontal installation position during maintenance, then safety and cost are improved, but shaft bending may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintenance equipmentVSAvoidshaft bending

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

A shaft support device is introduced as a simple intermediary element to support the shaft during maintenance operations in the horizontal position. This prevents shaft bending while allowing the pump to remain in its original installation position, avoiding the need for complex lifting and rotation equipment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3765742B1Method and apparatus related to servicing of liquid ring pumps

Publication Date: 2023.05.03 EDWARDS TECH VACUUM ENG (QINGDAO) CO LTD

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AI summary

A method for decoupling a liquid ring pump component (22) from a liquid ring 5 pump (2) for facilitating maintenance services, the liquid ring pump (2) comprising a housing (4) defining an annular chamber and a shaft (8) passing into the chamber, the component (22) being disposed around the shaft (8) and coupled between the shaft (8) and the housing (4), the method comprising: coupling, using a first fixing member (62), a first end of the shaft (8) to the 10 housing (4) thereby to prevent or oppose movement of the shaft (8) relative to the housing (4) in at least a radial direction; and, thereafter, sliding the component (22) along the shaft (8) in a direction along the shaft (8) from the housing (4) towards the first end of the shaft (8), thereby spacing apart the housing (4) and the component (22).