Miniature Pump Magnetic Coupling to Eliminate Shaft Friction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional miniature pumps experience mechanical loss and noise due to friction between the rotor shaft and pump housing, as well as impeller wear, leading to reduced service life.
Innovation Solution
A miniature pump design that includes a holding member to prevent friction by allowing the shaft to move axially without contact with the pump housing, with the impeller also designed to avoid contact with internal components, using a magnetic induction system to rotate the impeller within a sealed chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the shaft and impeller are allowed to rotate freely in the pump housing, then the pump can circulate fluid effectively, but friction occurs between the shaft and pump housing, leading to mechanical loss and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical bearing system with a magnetic coupling system. The rotor contains magnetic members that interact with corresponding magnetic members in the stator, enabling rotational transmission without mechanical contact. This substitution eliminates friction between the shaft and pump housing, resolving the contradiction between maintaining fluid circulation efficiency and reducing mechanical energy loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces magnetic fields as an intermediary between the rotor and stator. The magnetic members in the rotor and stator create magnetic coupling that transmits rotational motion without direct mechanical contact. This intermediary mechanism allows the shaft to rotate freely for fluid circulation while preventing frictional contact with the pump housing.
2Device complexity
If the shaft and impeller contact the pump housing during rotation, then the pump structure can be simplified, but wear occurs on the impeller and shaft, reducing service life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces direct mechanical contact between the shaft/impeller and pump housing with a magnetic coupling system. The magnetic members in the rotor interact with magnetic members in the stator to transmit rotation without physical contact, thereby preventing wear on the impeller and shaft while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the frictional contact mechanism from the pump system by removing the traditional bearing and seal structures that cause wear. The magnetic coupling system eliminates the need for these contact-based mechanical elements, thereby extending the service life of the shaft and impeller while maintaining pump functionality.
3Ease of manufacture
If the shaft and impeller rub against the pump housing, then the pump can be manufactured with simpler materials, but noise is generated during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical contact system with a magnetic coupling system that eliminates friction and noise. The magnetic members in the rotor and stator create a non-contact rotational transmission mechanism, thereby eliminating the noise generated by rubbing surfaces while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through the use of standard magnetic materials.
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 effectively prevents friction and extends the service life of the pump while reducing operational noise, enabling efficient heat dissipation through fluid circulation.
Implementation Method 1
The rotor is provided with an impeller and a magnetic member corresponding to the impeller. The stator is disposed on the bottom side and corresponds to the magnetic member.
Data Source
AI summary
A miniature pump including a pump housing, a rotor, a stator, a closing member connected to the top side, and a holding member. The pump housing includes a top side forming a pump chamber, a bottom side, an inlet and an outlet. An end of a shaft is fixed in the pump chamber, and a bearing is pivoted on the shaft. The rotor is provided in the pump chamber to circulate a working fluid passing through the pump chamber. The holding member is disposed on a side of the closing member corresponding to the bearing, and another end of the shaft is accommodated in the holding member.