Direct Motor-Pump Shaft Coupling for Vibration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fluid pumping systems face inefficiencies due to energy consumption and maintenance costs associated with using belts and gears for power transfer, and shaft misalignment issues lead to vibration, noise, and wear, affecting performance.
Innovation Solution
A direct coupling between the motor's output shaft and the pump's input shaft, with a rotational stop mechanism and resilient members to absorb relative movement, reduces the impact of shaft misalignment and allows for natural alignment, thereby minimizing noise and wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If belts or gears are used to transfer power from motor to pump, then power transmission is achieved, but energy consumption increases and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the intermediate power transmission components (belts, gears) from the system, directly coupling the motor output shaft to the pump input shaft. This extraction of unnecessary components eliminates energy losses associated with belt slip, gear friction, and mechanical inefficiencies, while still achieving the required power transmission function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the motor and pump into a more integrated assembly by directly coupling their shafts together. This merging eliminates the separate power transmission stage and reduces the overall system complexity, thereby reducing energy losses and maintenance requirements.
2Loss of energy
If shafts are perfectly aligned, then power transmission efficiency is maximized, but manufacturing and assembly difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a flexible coupling mechanism that allows the shafts to dynamically adjust their relative positions. Instead of requiring rigid perfect alignment, the coupling accommodates misalignments through elastic deformation or mechanical flexibility, maintaining efficient power transmission while simplifying manufacturing and assembly tolerances.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a flexible coupling as an intermediary element between the motor shaft and pump shaft. This mediator absorbs and compensates for alignment errors, allowing the shafts to be connected even when not perfectly aligned, thereby maintaining power transmission efficiency without requiring high manufacturing precision.
3Ease of manufacture
If shafts are misaligned, then assembly is easier, but vibration, noise, and wear increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible coupling acts as an intermediary that isolates the harmful effects of misalignment. It allows easy assembly with relaxed tolerances while preventing vibration and noise from propagating through the system by absorbing the misalignment through its flexible elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of shaft misalignment into a benefit by using the flexible coupling to deliberately introduce controlled flexibility. This allows the system to accommodate misalignments that would otherwise be harmful, transforming what was a manufacturing difficulty into a feature that simplifies assembly while protecting against vibration and noise.
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 configuration enhances alignment, reduces noise and wear, and lowers operational costs by minimizing energy consumption and maintenance needs, while maintaining efficient pumping performance.
Implementation Method 1
at least one resilient member for absorbing or substantially absorbing at least some of the relative movement between the pump and the motor
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid pumping system that includes a motor and a pump, wherein an output shaft of the motor is directly coupled to an input shaft of the pump. This coupling between the output shaft of the motor and the input shaft of the pump may be the primary mechanism for coupling the motor to the pump. Such a configuration may be called a “floating pump mount”, because the pump is primarily coupled to the motor via the shaft connection. As a result of this connection, the output shaft of the motor may be naturally “aligned” with the input shaft of the pump. To help prevent the pump from freely rotating with the output shaft of the motor during operation, a rotational stop mechanism may be provided. The rotational stop mechanism may include at least one resilient member for absorbing or substantially absorbing at least some of any relative movement between the pump and the motor.