Membrane Piston Pump Hydraulic Volume Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current piston pumps in high-speed applications, such as food processing, face challenges in maintaining a synchronized diaphragm and piston stroke due to hydraulic fluid volume imbalances, leading to wear, vibrations, and reduced efficiency, as existing solutions like valves and camshaft mechanisms are not fast enough to adjust fluid volume quickly enough.
Innovation Solution
A membrane-based piston pump with a device comprising a hydraulic fluid reservoir, a bushing element, and an axle element that allows instant adjustment of hydraulic fluid volume by creating fluid connections between the reservoir and the pump cavities at specific turning points, ensuring a pre-defined volume is maintained.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If valves or camshaft mechanisms are used to adjust hydraulic fluid volume, then the hydraulic fluid volume can be balanced, but the adjustment speed is too slow for high-speed applications
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the hydraulic fluid volume control function from traditional slow-acting valves and camshaft mechanisms, and implements it through a passive geometric design of the piston cavity and passage. The control is achieved by the piston's own movement uncovering or covering passages at specific positions, eliminating the need for separate active control components and enabling instantaneous response at high speeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The piston itself serves dual functions: both as the driving element for fluid pressurization and as the control element for hydraulic fluid volume regulation. As the piston moves, its position automatically controls the opening and closing of passages that regulate hydraulic fluid flow, making the system self-regulating without external control mechanisms.
2Device complexity
If the hydraulic fluid volume is not precisely maintained, then the pump structure becomes simpler, but diaphragm wear increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention incorporates preliminary control actions by designing the piston cavity and passage geometry such that the piston's movement proactively regulates hydraulic fluid volume before imbalances can cause diaphragm damage. The passages are positioned to open or close at specific piston positions, preemptively maintaining volume balance and preventing collisions between the diaphragm and pump housing.
3Ease of operation
If the hydraulic fluid volume is above the nominal value, then the diaphragm reaches the front turning point early, but this causes collisions with the pump housing and increased wear
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements a geometric feedback mechanism where the piston's position directly controls the opening and closing of hydraulic fluid passages. When the piston moves to specific positions, it automatically adjusts the hydraulic fluid volume to maintain proper diaphragm timing, creating a self-correcting system that prevents excessive diaphragm travel and collisions without requiring external sensors or control systems.
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 solution enables efficient operation at high speeds by instantly adjusting hydraulic fluid volume, reducing wear, vibrations, and maintaining pump efficiency, even at pressures up to 250 bar, thereby extending the diaphragm's lifetime and improving the pumping process.
Implementation Method 1
a device (426) for maintaining a pre-defined hydraulic fluid volume in the pump, comprising a hydraulic fluid reservoir (428), a bushing element (432) attached in a passage (424) between a piston cavity (422) and a membrane cavity (410)
Implementation Method 2
The pump may be operated to increase the pressure from approximately 3 bar up to 250 bar during the course of each pump/suction stroke
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a membrane-based piston pump (400) for pumping a liquid product. The pump is provided with a device (426) for maintaining a pre-defined hydraulic fluid volume in the pump. The device comprises an axle element (440) and a bushing element (432). The invention further relates to a method for pumping a liquid product in a pump. Furthermore, the invention relates to a homogenizer provided with a membrane- based piston pump.