Membrane Pump Venting With Leaf Spring Preload
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydraulically driven membrane pumps suffer from inefficiencies due to air bubble accumulation in the working chamber, which counteracts rapid pressure buildup and requires complex venting mechanisms, leading to larger pump dimensions and reduced efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulically driven membrane pump design utilizing a leaf spring guide disc perpendicular to the stroke direction, which replaces the spiral spring for preloading the membrane, allowing for a shorter pull rod and smaller working chamber volume, and incorporates vent bores for efficient air bubble removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spiral spring is used to preload the membrane in the direction of the suction stroke, then the suction stroke can be supported, but the working chamber volume increases and air bubble accumulation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the spiral spring from the working chamber and relocates the preloading function to a bellows element positioned externally. This extraction eliminates the space occupation and air bubble accumulation issues associated with spiral springs while maintaining the necessary membrane preloading function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a bellows element as an intermediary component that provides membrane preloading without occupying working chamber space. The bellows acts as a mediator between the external environment and the membrane, transferring the preloading force through a pull rod while avoiding the problems of internal spring placement.
2Volume of stationary object
If the working chamber volume is reduced to improve pump size, then pump dimensions decrease, but air bubble venting becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the spiral spring from the working chamber, the patent creates space for optimized vent bore positioning and simplifies the overall air bubble venting system. The extraction of the spring eliminates the need for complex venting mechanisms around spring components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the preloading function from the working chamber by using an external bellows element, allowing the working chamber to be optimized for compact dimensions while maintaining effective air bubble venting through strategically positioned vent bores.
3Force
If a pull rod with spiral spring is used for membrane preloading, then the membrane can be biased in the suction stroke direction, but the pump housing dimensions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent relocates the preloading mechanism from the axial dimension (inside the working chamber) to an external dimension using a bellows element. This dimensional change allows the pull rod to maintain its preloading function while extending outside the pump housing, thereby reducing the overall pump dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The bellows element serves as an intermediary that provides the necessary preloading force while occupying external space rather than internal space. This mediator allows the pull rod to be shorter and the pump housing more compact while maintaining the required membrane biasing force.
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 design achieves a smaller pump size, higher efficiency, and improved air bubble venting, reducing material costs and susceptibility to faults while enabling high-pressure delivery of small volumes.
Implementation Method 1
the membrane is connected on the working chamber side to a pull rod which is resiliently biased in the direction of the movement of the suction stroke when the membrane is in the pressure stroke position
Implementation Method 2
the fluid pressure in the working chamber is increased to such an extent that the membrane moves against a pressure in the pumping chamber and against any resilient bias of the membrane acting in the direction of the suction stroke position
Implementation Method 3
incorporates vent bores for efficient air bubble removal
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulically driven membrane pump for conveying a fluid, including a pumping chamber, a working chamber and a membrane which separates the pumping chamber and the working chamber in a fluid-tight manner, and means for reciprocating the membrane between a suction stroke position and a pressure stroke position, wherein the pumping chamber comprises at least one suction port through which the fluid to be conveyed is sucked into the pumping chamber in the suction stroke, and at least one discharge port through which the fluid to be conveyed is discharged from the pumping chamber in the pressure stroke, the membrane being connected on the working chamber side to a pull rod which is resiliently biased in the direction of the movement of the suction stroke.