Louie Pump Assembly Drain Conduit Backflow Cooling

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional water pumping systems face inefficiencies in pumping floodwater for irrigation due to high energy requirements and short operational life, primarily because of friction caused by sharp turns and inadequate cooling of shaft bearings.

Innovation Solution

The Louie pump assembly incorporates a drain conduit system with obtuse angles to facilitate backflow cooling of shaft bearings and reduce friction, featuring a pumping unit with a longitudinal axis, a pump drive unit, and a power unit that engages the pump shaft for rotation, along with a drain conduit system extending along elevated ground to cool shaft bearings and optimize water flow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of stationary object

If conventional water pumping systems use sharp turns in drain conduits, then the system structure is simpler, but friction increases and operational life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational lifeVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies curvature by designing the drain conduit with obtuse angles instead of sharp turns. Specifically, the drain conduit includes a first section, second section, third section, and fourth section connected at obtuse angles (greater than 90 degrees), creating smooth curved transitions that reduce friction and turbulence in water flow, thereby reducing energy loss and extending operational life

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Duration of action of stationary object

If conventional systems lack backflow cooling mechanism, then the system structure is simpler, but shaft bearing cooling is inadequate and operational life is shortened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational lifeVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the pumped water itself to cool the shaft bearing through a backflow cooling mechanism. The drain conduit is configured to allow water to flow backward from the fourth section through the pump housing to the shaft bearing, providing self-cooling without requiring external cooling systems. This obtuse-angle configured backflow path enables automatic cooling of the shaft bearing using the water being pumped

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The obtuse angles in the drain conduit configuration create smooth flow paths that facilitate effective backflow cooling. The curved transitions at obtuse angles prevent turbulence and ensure continuous water flow over the shaft bearing, enhancing cooling efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Productivity

If conventional systems use standard drain conduit angles, then installation is quicker, but water flow efficiency and cooling effectiveness are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepumping efficiencyVSAvoidinstallation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The drain conduit is designed with obtuse angles (greater than 90 degrees) at all connections between sections. This curved-angle configuration smooths water flow transitions, reduces turbulence and friction, and improves both pumping efficiency and cooling effectiveness while maintaining straightforward installation geometry

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 reduces energy consumption, prolongs the operational life of components, and allows for efficient pumping and distribution of floodwater to irrigation fields, while being safer and quicker to install compared to conventional systems.

Implementation Method 1

backflow water flowing through the drain conduit terminal segment, the drain conduit ascending segment and the drain conduit inlet segment, respectively, may flow into the pump shaft housing and contact the shaft bearing to cool the shaft bearing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS11536289B1Water pumping and distribution systems and louie pump assemblies

Publication Date: 2022.12.27 WATER HOG INC OF LAWRENCE COUNTY

AI summary

A pumping unit operable to pump water has a longitudinal pumping unit axis. A pump shaft engages shaft bearings in a pump shaft housing. A drain conduit includes a drain conduit inlet segment, a drain conduit ascending segment, and a drain conduit terminal segment. The drain conduit inlet segment has a longitudinal drain conduit axis disposed at an obtuse angle to the longitudinal pumping unit axis. The drain conduit ascending segment is disposed at an obtuse angle to the drain conduit inlet segment. The drain conduit terminal segment is disposed at an obtuse angle with respect to the drain conduit ascending segment and is disposed at a level above the shaft bearing. Accordingly, backflow water flowing through the drain conduit terminal segment, the drain conduit ascending segment and the drain conduit inlet segment, respectively, flows into the pump shaft housing to contact and cool the shaft bearing.