Modular Gear Pump Expansion Assembly for Higher Flow Rates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gear pumps face limitations in displacement volume due to gear size and length, requiring system reconfiguration for increased flow rates, which is inefficient and disruptive.
Innovation Solution
A modular expansion kit for gear pumps that includes a case extension, elongated gears, and shafts, allowing for increased volumetric displacement without altering the pump's connection points, enabling seamless upgrade or downgrade to different flow rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the gear diameter and length are increased to increase displacement volume, then the flow rate increases, but the pump size and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pump case is divided into a main case and a separate extension assembly that can be attached to extend the gear axial length. This segmentation allows the pump to achieve increased displacement volume without requiring a completely larger pump housing, as the extension assembly adds capacity modularly to the existing main case.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of increasing gear diameter (two-dimensional expansion), the invention extends the gear axial length (adding a dimensional component). This approach increases displacement volume by utilizing the third dimension (axial direction) rather than expanding radially, thereby increasing flow rate without proportionally increasing overall pump size.
2Productivity
If a larger pump is installed to increase flow rate, then productivity increases, but system reconfiguration and installation time are required
Solution Approach 1:
The extension assembly is designed to be removable and interchangeable, allowing the pump capacity to be dynamically adjusted. Users can attach or detach extension assemblies based on required flow rates, enabling flexible adaptation without permanent system reconfiguration or downtime for installing entirely new pumps.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameter of displacement volume by adding or removing extension assemblies rather than changing the entire pump system. This allows flow rate adjustment through parameter modification (extending gear length) while maintaining the same pump body and connection points, avoiding system reconfiguration.
3Productivity
If the gear length is extended to increase displacement volume, then flow rate increases, but the case length and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The case is segmented into a main case and a separate extension assembly. This segmentation isolates the complexity of the extended gear length into a modular component that can be attached to the simple main case, thereby increasing displacement volume without making the entire case structure complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The main case is designed with universal mounting features that can accommodate different extension assemblies. This universality allows the same main case to work with various extension lengths, reducing overall device complexity by using a standardized base component rather than designing unique cases for each displacement volume requirement.
Data Source
AI summary
A modular expansion assembly for a gear pump is provided. The modular expansion assembly includes a case extension, a set of elongated replacement gears, and a set of elongated replacement shafts. The case extension is removably attached between a main case of the gear pump and a faceplate assembly of the gear pump. The case extension includes a second chamber that aligns with a first chamber of the main case to form a continuous combined chamber. The set of replacement gears is configured to extend axially the substantial length of the continuous combined chamber, and the set of replacement shafts is configured to extend through the continuous combined chamber into bores of the faceplate assembly and bores of a backplate assembly of the gear pump. When installed on a gear pump, the modular expansion assembly allows for increased volumetric displacement without requiring changes to connecting piping systems.