Magnetic Shuttle Valve Biasing to Prevent Reciprocating Pump Stalling

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Reciprocating fluid pumps are prone to stalling due to the shuttle spool getting stuck at intermediate positions, which prevents the drive fluid from passing effectively between drive chamber conduits, leading to inefficiencies in fluid pumping operations.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating magnets within the shuttle valve to create a magnetic field that biases the shuttle spool away from the center position, using repulsive forces to prevent stalling and ensure smooth movement between operational positions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a shuttle spool is used to control drive fluid flow between drive chamber conduits, then the pump can operate with simple mechanical components, but the shuttle spool may get stuck at intermediate positions causing stalling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical componentsVSAvoidshuttle spool movement

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the purely mechanical shuttle spool system with a magnetic field-based control system. Magnets are positioned to create magnetic fields that act on the shuttle spool, eliminating the need for mechanical springs or other physical urging mechanisms. This substitution reduces mechanical contact points that could cause sticking while maintaining reliable directional control of the drive fluid flow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces magnetic fields as an intermediary between the control mechanism and the shuttle spool. Instead of direct mechanical contact or spring pressure, the magnetic field serves as a non-contact intermediary that exerts force on the shuttle spool to maintain movement and prevent stalling at intermediate positions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the shuttle spool is positioned at the center position, then the drive fluid flow can be balanced, but the spool may stall and prevent effective fluid passing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshuttle spool positionVSAvoidfluid pumping efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by using magnetic fields to preemptively counteract the tendency of the shuttle spool to stall at the center position. The magnetic urging force is applied in advance to maintain the spool's movement through the center position, preventing the stall condition before it can occur and ensuring continuous effective fluid flow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Reliability

If magnets are incorporated to create magnetic field for biasing the shuttle spool, then stalling is reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshuttle spool movementVSAvoidmagnetic field configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the urging function from traditional mechanical components (springs, mechanical linkages) and implements it separately through magnetic fields. This extraction allows the magnetic field configuration to be optimized independently, using permanent magnets or electromagnetic coils positioned to create the necessary magnetic flux patterns without requiring complex mechanical assemblies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 magnetic field configuration reduces or eliminates stalling occurrences, enhancing the efficiency of fluid pumping by ensuring consistent fluid flow and reducing the force required to maintain movement, thus improving the overall operation of reciprocating fluid pumps.

Implementation Method 1

Incorporating magnets within the shuttle valve to create a magnetic field that biases the shuttle spool away from the center position, using repulsive forces to prevent stalling

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic field: Magnetic Field

Implementation Method 2

using repulsive forces to prevent stalling and ensure smooth movement between operational positions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic repulsion: Ion Repulsion/Attraction

Data Source

PatentEP3730786B1Reciprocating fluid pumps including magnets, and related assemblies, systems, and methods

Publication Date: 2022.12.28 WHITE KNIGHT FLUID HANDLING INC

Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B~2D

AI summary

A reciprocating fluid pump may include a pump body, one or more subject fluid chambers within the pump body, one or more drive fluid chambers within the pump body, and a shuttle valve for shifting flow of pressurized drive fluid between two or more conduits. The shuttle valve includes a valve body and a spool disposed within the valve body and configured to move between a first position and a second position within the valve body. The shuttle valve also includes one or more magnets carried by the spool. The magnets are located and configured to impart a force on the spool responsive to a magnetic field such that the spool is magnetically biased away from an intermediate position between the first position and the second position.